Is autonomous motivation the key to maintaining an active lifestyle in first-episode psychosis?
Physical activity has the potential to improve the health of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP), yet many patients with FEP remain inactive. Exploring the theoretical basis of the motivational processes linked to the adoption and maintenance of physical activity behaviours in FEP patients can assist with the design and delivery of physical activity interventions. Within the self-determination theory and the transtheoretical model (stages of change) frameworks, we investigated motives for physical activity adoption and maintenance in FEP.



Overall 56 FEP patients (20♀) (24 ± 4 years) completed the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 to assess exercise motives, and the Patient-Centred Assessment and Counselling for Exercise to determine stage of change. Gender and setting differences in motives for physical activity were compared with unpaired t-tests. The relationship between motives for physical activity and stage of change was investigated using anova with post-hoc Scheffe tests.



No significant differences were found according to gender and setting. Multivariate analyses found significantly higher levels of amotivation and lower levels of autonomous motivation in the earlier stages of change.



Our results suggest that in FEP patients, autonomous regulations may play an important role in the adoption and maintenance of physical activity behaviours. The study provides a platform for future research to investigate the importance of autonomous motivation within physical activity interventions for this population.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Leuven - KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|University Psychiatric Center, University of Leuven - KU Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium.
Davy
D
Vancampfort
University Psychiatric Center, University of Leuven - KU Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium.
Marc
M
De Hert
Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Julie
J
Broderick
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Oscar
O
Lederman
Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Joseph
J
Firth
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Simon
S
Rosenbaum
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Leuven - KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Michel
M
Probst
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
exercise; motivation; physical activity; psychosis