A GRADED CONCEPTUALIZATION OF SELF-DETERMINATION IN THE REGULATION OFEXERCISE BEHAVIOR - DEVELOPMENT OF A MEASURE USING CONFIRMATORY FACTOR-ANALYTIC PROCEDURES

The aim of this research was to test the continuum of behavioural regu lation, as outlined by Deci and Ryan (1990), in the exercise domain. A Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ) was developed to measure external, interjected, identified, intrinsic and amotivate d forms of regulation for exercise behaviour. 298 sports centre attend ees completed the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis supporte d the existence of this gradient of autonomy in exercise behaviour reg ulation but high levels of skewness in the amotivation items indicated that amotivated regulation was not relevant for this sample. A four f actor model with amotivation eliminated demonstrated acceptable discri minant validity and internal consistency. A second study confirmed the factor structure and internal consistency of the measure. Multisample analysis established factorial invariance across gender. Subscale int ercorrelations approximated a simplex pattern, characteristic of an un derlying continuum. The BREQ may allow finer analysis of the motivatio nal forces at play in exercise adoption and maintenance situations. (C ) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.