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Affective and physiological predictors of exercise motivation: Evidence from HRV-based profiling.
Enzo R N Everett1, Danylo F Cabral2, Amelia D Saul3
1Department of Teaching and Learning, Florida International University, USA.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Exercise motivation is linked to how the body regulates effort and physiological signals, not just feelings. Understanding this autonomic-perceptual link can enhance exercise adherence and performance.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sport Psychology
- Psychophysiology
Background:
- Situational motivation during exercise is crucial for adherence and performance.
- Understanding the interplay between psychophysiological states and motivation is key.
- Previous research has focused on affective states, but the role of integrated physiological regulation is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between experimentally induced psychophysiological states and situational motivation during cycling exercise.
- To identify key psychophysiological and perceptual predictors of motivation.
- To explore the influence of autonomic-nervous system dynamics and perceived exertion on motivation.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-five healthy adults underwent 8-minute cycling trials under four manipulated affective conditions.
- Measurements included heart rate variability (HRV), perceived exertion, affective states, and situational motivation.
- Principal component analysis (PCA) integrated HRV complexity (DFA-α 1), autonomic measures, and perceptual data to identify latent profiles.
Main Results:
- A composite variable reflecting autonomic-perceptual regulatory efficiency (HRV complexity and perceived exertion) strongly predicted situational motivation (R 2 = .82).
- This curvilinear relationship was robust upon cross-validation (cross-validated R 2 ≈ .67).
- General physiological activation and affective valence/arousal were weaker predictors compared to regulatory efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Situational motivation in exercise is more influenced by the integrated relationship between perceived effort and autonomic regulation than by affective states alone.
- Autonomic-perceptual regulatory efficiency is a critical factor in understanding exercise motivation.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering complex psychophysiological interactions in exercise psychology.
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