"investigation of the relationship between goal orientation and behavioral regulations and psychological needs in exercise"

SUMMARY Investigation of the Relationship Between Goal Orientation and Behavioral Regulations and Psychological Needs in Exercise Benefits and necessity of exercising are known, it is seen that majority of the society is unsuccessful in terms of participation to and continuity of exercise. About this subject, researches have shown that the concept of motivation in exercise is effective in terms of starting and continuing exercising. In this context, primary purpose of the research is to examine the relation between exercise goal orientation and exercise behaviour, behavioral regulations and psychological needs in exercise of university students in terms of exercise. Secondary purpose of the research is to identify the differences of the psychological concepts in terms of gender as reviewed in the study. Total of 423 university students (Xage= 21.66±2.06 years) between the age range of 18-34 have voluntarily participated in the study; 168 of them are women (Xage= 21.25±1.69 years) and 255 are men (Xage= 21.94±2.24 years). Personal information form, "Goal Orientation in Exercise Questionnaire", "Behavioral Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire" and "Basic Physiological Needs in Exercise Questionnaire" were applied to the participants. Descriptive statistics analysis (mean and standard deviation), Hierarchical Regression Analysis and unpaired t test were used for analyzing the data. Upon examination of research findings, significant relation was found between goal orientation and internal motivation, amotivation and relation; and between ego orientation and external regulation and competence as a result of Hierarchical Regression Analysis. When gender differences in exercise motivation are examined, a difference was found in external regulation and amotivation sub-dimensions. As a result of these findings, it was seen that motivation and basic psychological needs are the factors for determination of goal orientation for exercising. In addition, it is another conclusion of the research that women participants engage in exercising due to less external reasons compared to makes, and there is a more dominant view among men to consider exercising as an unnecessary activity. Keywords: Exercise Motivation, Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise, Achievement Goal Theory, Self-Determination Theory.