Behavioral regulations and dispositional flow in exercise among American college students relative to stages of change and gender

Citation

Ersoz G & Eklund R (2017) Behavioral regulations and dispositional flow in exercise among American college students relative to stages of change and gender. Journal of American College Health, 65 (2), pp. 94-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2016.1239203

Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine behavioral regulations and dispositional flow in exercise among university students in terms of gender and stage of change. Participants: Data were collected from American college students (N= 257;Mage±SD= 23.02 ± 4.05) in Spring 2013. Methods: Behavioral regulations and dispositional flow in exercise were assessed, along with stage of change. Results: Exercisers in the maintenance stage of change displayed significantly more self-determined motivation to exercise and a greater tendency to experience flow than those in preparation and action stages. Significant correlations were observed among behavioral regulations and flow state. Nonsignificant differences were observed for gender on behavioral regulations and dispositional flow in exercise. Conclusions: The results suggest that promotion of self-determined motivation and dispositional flow in exercisers may improve the quality of their experiences, as well as to foster their exercise behavior.

Keywords
College students; dispositional flow; exercise motivation; self-determination theory

Journal
Journal of American College Health: Volume 65, Issue 2