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Mindfulness May Moderate the Relationship Between Intrinsic Motivation and Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Mindfulness volume 7, pages 445–452 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

This study aims to characterize the relationships between intrinsic motivation toward physical activity, mindfulness, and physical activity level. We measured self-reported mindfulness, motivational regulation toward exercise, and physical activity level in 280 French students. Analyses conducted on 244 participants revealed that self-reported mindfulness moderates the relationship between intrinsic motivation toward exercise and physical activity levels. These findings may have implications for interventionists seeking to promote increased physical activity with mindfulness-based techniques. In fact, it seems that increasing mindfulness skills of individuals could improve their intrinsic motivation to exercise and, thus, physical activity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Lise Anhoury (French Institute of Sport) and Joan Tihy (University of Caen) for the data collection, Nelly Erichot (Paris Descartes University) and Christophe Gernigon (Univeristy of Montpellier) for various comments on the manuscript, Catherine O’Malley and Laura Killian for translation corrections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé (EA 4057), Institut de Psychologie, Université Paris Descartes, 71 Avenue Edouard Vaillant, 92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France

    Alexis Ruffault

  2. Département de la Recherche, Institut National du Sport (INSEP), 11 Avenue du Tremblay, 75012, Paris, France

    Alexis Ruffault & Jean F Fournier

  3. Centre d’Etude Sport et Actions Motrices (EA 4260), Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, UFR STAPS, 2 Boulevard du Maréchal Juin, 14032, Caen Cedex, France

    Marjorie Bernier

  4. Mindeval, 2450 Boulevard Laurier, C.P. 36032, Québec, QC, G1V 4W7, Canada

    Nicolas Juge

Authors
  1. Alexis Ruffault
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  2. Marjorie Bernier
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  3. Nicolas Juge
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  4. Jean F Fournier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexis Ruffault.

Ethics declarations

All the participants gave their signed agreement to participate in the study. Participants were given a random code to withdraw from the study at any time after they filled out the questionnaires, upon their request. Institutional ethical approval was sought and given.

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None.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Ruffault, A., Bernier, M., Juge, N. et al. Mindfulness May Moderate the Relationship Between Intrinsic Motivation and Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Mindfulness 7, 445–452 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0467-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0467-7

Keywords

  • Health behavior
  • Physical activity
  • Motivation
  • Mindfulness
  • Students