Mechanisms in Self-Determined Exercise Motivation. A PhD Thesis Summary

Regular physical activity and exercise bring about recognized health benefits and most Western countries have developed health recommendations, targeted information and programs to promote these behaviors. In spite of this, a large amount of the Western populations do not reach recommended levels of physical activity and exercise [1]. Because people in general are most likely aware of these benefits, one way to understand the modest uptake would be to study motivational aspects of these behaviors. This short communication paper is a summary of a PhD thesis entitled: “You don’t have to love it Exploring the mechanisms of exercise motivation using self-determination theory in a digital context.