Pursuing Health and Social Affiliation: Intrinsic Motivations of Well-being Through Physical Activity

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-382-5_103How to use a DOI?

Keywords

self-determination theory; physical activity; hedonic well-being; intrinsic motivation; external motivation; eudaimonic well-being

Abstract

Background: Abundant research has shown a robust connection between physical activity and mental health. Yet, the nuanced role of motivation remains underexplored. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study delves into the motivational aspects, categorizing them into intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. This study aims to holistically explore the interplay between motivation types and well-being, incorporating hedonic and eudaimonic dimensions, contributing valuable insights for tailored interventions promoting holistic health.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey, employing quantitative methods, was conducted with the participation of 309 Chinese adults recruited through referral sampling methods. Participants, aged from 18 to 60, completed an online survey assessing motivation for physical activity, along with hedonic well-being (affective and cognitive components), and eudaimonic well-being. Valid responses (n = 245) underwent analysis using statistical tools, including correlation analyses and linear regression tests, conducted with SPSS software.

Results: The results demonstrated that intrinsic motivations had stronger positive associations with cognitive well-being, positive affect, and eudaimonic well-being compared to external motivations. Two intrinsic motivations, health management, and social affiliation emerged as significant predictors, showing strong positive relationships with eudaimonic well-being, cognitive well-being, and positive affect.

Conclusions: This study reveals the intricate interplay between motivations for physical activity and well-being. Intrinsic motivations exhibit robust correlations with both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, while external motivations show a limited impact on hedonic well-being. The findings advocate for prioritizing intrinsic motivations in physical activity programs for enhanced well-being. Future research should delve into cross-cultural validation and exploration of causal links in diverse populations.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Download article (PDF)

TY  - CONF
AU  - Zhaoyu Yang
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/03/28
TI  - Pursuing Health and Social Affiliation: Intrinsic Motivations of Well-being Through Physical Activity
BT  - Proceedings of the 2024 International Conference on Social Sciences and Educational Development (ICOSSED 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 1077
EP  - 1092
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-382-5_103
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-382-5_103
ID  - Yang2025
ER  -