Title: “Exercise behaviour and well-being: Examining a novel psychological needs framework”
Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Mark Beauchamp
Committee Members: Dr. Guy Faulkner, Dr. Bruno Zumbo, Dr. Ryan Rhodes
Chair: Dr. Joelle LeMoult
External Examiner: Dr. Meghan McDonough
University Examiners: Dr. Nancy Perry, Dr. Anita Hubley
Abstract: The primary purpose of this dissertation was to examine whether a novel psychological needs framework (Dweck, 2017) explains variability in exercise-related well-being and behaviour, with a particular focus on the need for optimal predictability and the mediating roles of meaning and identity. The results from Study 1 supported Dweck’s (2017) contentions (in the context of exercise) that optimal predictability is a unique psychological experience that is important for well-being, above and beyond those key needs embedded within self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2017); namely, competence, autonomy, and relatedness. In Study 2, I examined two structural equation models that operationalized Dweck’s needs model and the SDT framework for explaining exercise behaviour. In both models, identity was the most salient correlate of exercise behaviour and mediated the relationship between competence and exercise behaviour. Given the importance of identity for exercise behaviour, I examined the most relevant correlates of changes in running identity (as well as smoking identity) among individuals participating in a group-mediated, multiple health behaviour change program called Run to Quit (Study 3). Changes in running self-efficacy, running frequency, and attraction to the group exercise/running tasks were the most salient correlates of change in running identity. Furthermore, changes in smoking behaviour and running identity were the most salient correlates of changes in smoking identity. In Study 4, I drew from the social identity approach (C. Haslam et al., 2018) to develop, and evaluate, the feasibility and acceptability of an eight-week, online delivered running and walking group program (STRIDE program) to support the exercise behaviour and well-being of low active post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was concluded that the STRIDE program is feasible and acceptable; however, in-person running and walking activities appear to be preferable to online-delivered group activities, and should be piloted before testing the STRIDE program in a full-scale efficacy trial. The STRIDE program also demonstrated potential effectiveness in promoting exercise identity. In summary, the results from this dissertation point to the importance of identity for explaining exercise behaviour, key predictors of exercise identity, and the potential effectiveness of group-based exercise for promoting exercise identity.