PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS AND THE PREDICTION OF EXERCISE-RELATED COGNITIONS AND AFFECT AMONG AN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COHORT OF ADULT WOMEN.

The current study explored the utility of Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985) and Optimal Distinctiveness Theory (ODT; Brewer, 1991, 1993) in predicting motivational, cognitive, and affective responses to group-based exercise. Female exercise class participants (N = 260) of White (W; 38%), Asian/Asian British (A/AB; 33%), and Black/Black British (B/BB; 29%) ethnic origin completed measures of group exercise-specific psychological need satisfaction, motivational regulations, cognitions, and affect. Supporting SDT and ODT, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that psychological need satisfaction and autonomous motivation predicted exercise-related outcomes for W and B/BB participants but not for A/AB participants. Partial support was provided for the propositions of SDT and ODT for W and B/BB female exercise class participants. Further research is needed to delineate the psychological determinants of exercise-related motivation, cognitions, and affect for A/AB exercisers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]