“It's Who I Am … Really!’ The Importance of Integrated Regulation in Exercise Contexts1

Abstract

The purpose of this series of studies was to evaluate a measure of integrated regulation specific to exercise contexts in line with Self‐Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2002). To address this purpose, three studies were conducted to test select psychometric and theoretical properties of four integrated regulation items created for use within the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ). Confirmatory factor analyses conducted in Studies 1 and 2 supported the inclusion of integrated regulation within the expanded BREQ measurement model. Simultaneous multiple regression analyses (SMRAs) conducted in Study 2 indicated that greater need satisfaction promoted endorsement of autonomous exercise motives, including integrated regulation. Finally, SMRA conducted in Study 3 revealed that integrated regulation contributed to the prediction of exercise behavior and physical self‐worth. Collectively, the results of this investigation suggest that the new integrated regulation items can be used in conjunction with the BREQ without compromising validity, and support Deci and Ryan's (1985, 2002) assertions regarding the importance of autonomous extrinsic motives, including integrated regulation in exercise domains.