The role of body-related self-conscious emotions in motivating women's physical activity.
The purpose of this study was to test a model where body-related self-conscious emotions of shame, guilt, and pride were associated with physical activity regulations and behavior. Adult women (N = 389; M age = 29.82, SD = 15.20 years) completed a questionnaire assessing body-related pride, shame, and guilt, motivational regulations, and leisure-time physical activity. The hypothesized measurement and structural models were deemed adequate, as was a revised model examining shame-free guilt and guilt-free shame. In the revised structural model, body-related pride was positively significantly related to identified and intrinsic regulations. Body-related shame-free guilt was significantly associated with external, introjected, and identified regulations. Body-related guilt-free shame was significantly positively related to external and introjected regulation, and negatively associated with intrinsic regulation. Identified and intrinsic regulations were significantly positively related to physical activity (R2 = .62). These findings highlight the importance of targeting and understanding the realm of body-related self-conscious emotions and the associated links to regulations and physical activity behavior.
Sabiston
Catherine M
CM
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Brunet
Jennifer
J
Kowalski
Kent C
KC
Wilson
Philip M
PM
Mack
Diane E
DE
Crocker
Peter R E
PR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image; D002170:Canada; D004644:Emotions; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D012752:Shame; D016387:Women's Health