Motivation and Physical Activity

Introduction

The aim of this research group is to explore motivation within exercise and sport settings. Two key theories are mainly used to explore motivation: self-determination theory and reversal theory in a range of populations and contexts. For instance, projects range from examinations of in situ motivation during acute exercise in healthy individuals to long term changes and predictors of motivation in chronically ill individuals. 

On-going projects

  • Exercise motivation in falls patients
  • Integrating self-determination and reversal theories to understand exercise motivation and behaviour
  • Exercise motivation and well-being in cancer survivors

Group members

PhD students

Fiona Higgs, B.Sc.

 

Collaborators

  • Dr. Rachel Rahman, Department of Applied Psychology
  • Dr. James Hardy, Bangor University.

Approaches

  • Self-determinaion theory

  • Reversal theory

 

Recent Publications

LeGrand, F.D., & Thatcher, J. (in press). Acute mood responses to a 15min-long walking session at self-selected intensity: Effects of an experimentally-induced telic or paratelic state. Emotion.
 
Rahman, R., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C.E., Doust, J., & Thatcher, J. (2011). Changes in need satisfaction and motivation orientation as predictors of psychological and behavioural outcomes in exercise referral. Psychology and Health.

Kuroda, Y., Thatcher, J., & Thatcher, R. (2011). Metamotivational state and dominance: Links with EMG gradients during exercise and a test of the misfit effect. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29, 403-410. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2010.537673.

Thatcher, J., Kuroda, Y., Legrand, F. D., & Thatcher, R. (2011). Stress responses during aerobic exercise in relation to metamotivational dominance and state. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29, 299-306. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2010.534808

Law, R., Breslin, A., Oliver, E.J., Mawn, L., Markland, D., Maddison, P., & Thom, J. (2010). Patient perceptions of the effects of exercise on joint health in rheumatoid arthritis.  Rheumatology. 49(12), 2444-5.
 
Thatcher, J., Kuroda, Y., Thatcher, R., & Legrand, F. D. (2010). Perceptual and cognitive responses during exercise: Relationships with metamotivational state and dominance. European Journal of Sports Sciences, 10, 199-207.
 
Legrand, F. D., Bertucci, W.M., & Thatcher, J. (2009). Telic dominance influences affective response to a heavy-intensity 10-min treadmill running session. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(10), 1059-1067.