Table 2.
Characteristics of the selected studies for analysis.
| Studies | Aims | Participants/Age | Design | Assessment instruments/technique | Main conclusions | Variables in study | Methodology quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmunds et al. (2008) | (1) To analyze whether the teaching style of an exercise instructor can be manipulated in such a way that it satisfies more autonomy support, structure, and interpersonal involvement. (2) To analyze the impact of an exercise class taught according to socio-contextual variables on psychological needs, autonomous motivation and behavior; (3) To analyze the motivational sequence incorporated into SDT. |
Exercisers (N = 56) Ages ranged from 18–53 in the experimental group (M = 21.26 years, SD = 3.80) and from 18–38 in the control group (M = 21.36 years, SD = 6.71). | Experimental (10 weeks) | Perceived Environmental Supportiveness Scale (PESS); Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale (PNSS); Behavioral Regulation Exercise Questionnaire 2 (BREQ-2) + Exercise Motivation Scale (EMS); Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS); Adherence (register); Intention. | Control group: There was a significant decrease in autonomy support, an increase in amotivation, and a decrease in behavioral intention over time. In addition, there was a significant increase in perceived competence and introjected regulation. Experimental group: This group showed a significantly greater linear increase in structure, interpersonal involvement, fulfillment of relationship and competence needs, and positive affect. Attendance rates were also significantly higher in the experimental group |
Perception of autonomy support, structure, and interpersonal involvement; BPN, regulation of motivation (intrinsic, integrated, introjected, amotivation), Adherence, Intention, and positive and negative affect. | 17 |
| Ng et al. (2013) | This study aimed to analyze how others can support or counteract the psychological needs of exercisers with weight control goals, and how this condition can impact well-being and behaviour. | Exercisers (N = 156) Average age of participants (M = 31.01 years, SD = 13.21) | Retrospective (6 months) | Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ) + Controlling Coach Behaviors Scale (CCBS); Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale (BNSE) + Psychological Need Thwarting Scale (PNTS); GLTEQ; Eating Behaviors; Life Satisfaction; Self-esteem; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). | The perception of autonomy support from others was associated with the satisfaction of psychological needs, while controlling behaviors were linked to the frustration of these needs. The satisfaction of needs was positively related to greater satisfaction with life, while the frustration of needs was related to negative consequences, such as depressive symptoms and unhealthy eating behaviors. |
Perception of autonomy support/control; Satisfaction and Frustration of BPN; Exercise behaviors; Healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors; Psychological well-being/ill-being; | 16 |
| Ng et al. (2013) | The study aimed to analyze how the perception of autonomy support/control from others can predict BPNs, motivation regulation, and weight control behaviors (i.e., physical exercise and eating habits). | 235 Practitioners trying to control their weight (183 F; 156 M) Ages ranged from 18 to 64 (M = 27.39 years, SD = 8.96) | Cross-sectional | Perception of autonomy support + CCBS; Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale (BNSE) + Psychological Need Thwarting Scale (PNTS); BREQ-2; GLTEQ; Eating Behaviors. | The results showed that when others supported perceived autonomy, participants reported more autonomous levels of motivation for weight management, which in turn predicted greater physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. In contrast, when others adopted controlling behaviors over autonomy, participants reported more controlled forms of motivation, predicting lower physical activity and healthy eating behaviors, as well as a greater preponderance of unhealthy eating behaviors. | Perception of autonomy support/control; BPN satisfaction and frustration; Exercise behaviors; Healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors | 12 |
| Jones et al. (2017) | This study aimed to explore two psychological characteristics that are potential predictors of people’s reactions to exercise classes: attention style and contextual motivation | Female exercisers (N = 417) Average age of participants (M = 37.2 years, SD = 13.7) | Cross Sectional | Attentional Focus Questionnaire (AFQ) + Cognitive Index (CI); EMS; Affect Grid (AG); Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2); Behavioral Intent. | Attention style (internal focus) proved to be significant (p < 0.05) for affective, cognitive and behavioral results. Practitioners with an internal focus proved to be more self-determined and obtained more positive results than those with an external focus. Highly self-determined individuals obtained better results in the behavioral, cognitive, and affective variables. Almost 29% of the variation in the participants’ affective valence can be explained by the behavioral regulations of the externally focused practitioners. | Attention Style; Motivation Regulation; Affective Valence; Intention; Concentration and Excitement | 12 |
| Rodrigues et al. (2019) | Based on the theory of self-determination, the study aimed to analyze the Bright and Dark sides of motivation as predictors of enjoyment, intention, and persistence in physical exercise. | 575 Portuguese exercisers (230 F) Ages ranged from 18–65 (M = 34.07 years, SD = 11.47) | Cross Sectional | Interpersonal Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ); Basic Psychological Need Satisfactions and Frustration Scale Portuguese version (BPNSFS-E); BREQ-3; Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES); Intention; Persistence. | Positive and significant associations were found between the “Bright” side of motivation and the predictors under study. However, the “Dark” side showed negative and significant correlation values with all the predictors. Through a mediation analysis, the “Bright” side model showed total mediation, with the influence of the mediators always being significant in the model. The “Dark” side model showed no significant direct or indirect effects on persistence. Intention had a significant effect on exercise persistence but only explained 11 percent of the variance. The overall structural model explained 14 percent of the variance, considering all the direct and indirect effects. | Interpersonal behaviors of support and thwarting; BPN Satisfaction and Frustration; Regulation of motivation; Enjoyment; Intention; Persistence. | 16 |
| Rodrigues et al. (2021) | (1) Considering the motivational sequence proposed by SDT, this study aimed to test the effect of past behavior on future behavior. | 293 Portuguese exercisers (166 F; 127 M) Ages ranged from 18 to 65 (M = 36.57 years, SD = 11.25) | Cross Sectional | IBQ; BPNSFS-E; BREQ-3; PACES; Intention and Past and future behavior (frequency recording) | All the variables under study correlated positively and significantly with each other, except for the relationship between past and future behaviors with interpersonal support behaviors and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. The results show positive associations between all the constructs, respecting the motivational sequence. However, with the addition of past behavior, the model cancels out the significance between intention and future behavior, and past behavior becomes the significant mediator between this relationship. This also happens with the indirect effects of the model: when past behavior is added to the model, it eliminates all the indirect effects of the constructs on future behavior. | Interpersonal support behaviors; BPN satisfaction; Motivation regulation (autonomous regulation); Pleasure; Intention; Past and future behavior | 16 |
| Cho et al. (2023) | This study aimed to analyze the impact of social support from family and friends on the intention to practice physical exercise, using BPNs, intrinsic motivation, and attitude as mediators. | Exercising university students in Singapore (n = 318) Ages ranged from 18 - >40 | Cross Sectional | Social Support for Exercise (SSE); Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale (BPNES); BREQ-2; Attitude e Intention. | The results showed a direct effect between the social support provided by friends on BPNs, and that needs had an indirect effect on the intention to exercise, through the mediation of intrinsic motivation and attitude. | Family and Friends’ Social Support; BPN’s; Intrinsic Motivation; Attitude and Intention |