Perceived wellness and exercise motivation of students in a university physical activity and wellness course

The purpose of this research was to determine if perceived wellness predicts exercise motivation for students enrolled in a basic studies, physical activity and wellness course. The Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS) was used to measure well-being on six dimensions. The Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2) was used to assess exercise motivation including decisions to engage in physical exercise, through the application of five subscales. A single score was derived from the BREQ-2 subscales called the relative autonomy index (RAI), which indicates the degree of self-determination of respondents. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted where the predictors were PWS subscales: psychological, social, physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional wellness and the criterion variable was BREQ-RAI. The linear combination of PWS subscales was significantly related to BREQ-RAI, F(6, 572)=41.11, p<.001. The sample multiple correlation coefficient was .549, indicating approximately 30% of the variance in BREQ-RAI can be accounted for by the linear combination of PWS subscales. All bivariate correlations between PWS subscales and BREQ-RAI were statistically significant (p<.05). Each PWS subscale correlated positively with BREQ-RAI. Interestingly, only the partial correlations between the physical and intellectual PWS subscales and BREQ-RAI were statistically significant (p<.05). Basic studies courses like the one in this study promote wellness with the goal of lifelong physical activity. The finding that perceived wellness is a direct predictor of exercise behavior motivation provides rationale for teaching from a wellness perspective in these courses.