Mindfulness May Moderate the Relationship Between Intrinsic Motivation and Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Alexis Ruffault (1, 2) , Marjorie Bernier (3) , Nicolas Juge (4) , Jean F. Fournier (5)

1 LPPS - EA 4057 - Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé
2 SEP (EA7370) - French Institute of Sport (INSEP), Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370)
3 LIRTES - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur les Transformations des pratiques Éducatives et des pratiques Sociales
4 Mindeval
5 INSEP - Institut national du sport, de l'expertise et de la performance

This study aims to characterize the relationships between intrinsic motivation towards physical activity, mindfulness, and physical activity level. We measured self-reported mindfulness, motivational regulation towards exercise, and physical activity level in 280 French students. Analyses conducted on 244 participants revealed that self-reported mindfulness moderates the relationship between intrinsic motivation towards exercise and physical activity levels. These findings may have implications for interventionists seeking to promote increased physical activity with mindfulness-based techniques. In fact, it seems that increasing mindfulness skills of individuals could improve their intrinsic motivation to exercise and thus, physical activity.

Mots clés: Health behavior; Physical activity; Motivation; Mindfulness; Students

Domaines: Psychologie

Alexis Ruffault, Marjorie Bernier, Nicolas Juge, Jean F. Fournier. Mindfulness May Moderate the Relationship Between Intrinsic Motivation and Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Mindfulness, 2016, 7 (2), pp.445-452. ⟨10.1007/s12671-015-0467-7⟩. ⟨hal-01317534⟩