College women’s physical activity, health-related quality of life, and physical fitness: a self-determination perspective

This study applied self-determination theory to examine Chinese college women motivational profiles and their association with physical activity involvement, health-related quality of life, and physical fitness. 292 Chinese college women completed questionnaires assessing relevant psychological constructs and physical activity involvement. Their physical fitness was measured based on the China National Fitness Test Program including body shape, pulmonary function, and body fitness. A two-step cluster analysis determined the profiles that resulted from the interactions among motivation variables reflecting the degree of self-determination. Four distinct clusters of college women were identified: low self-determination/high control, low combination, high combination, and high self-determination/low control. There were significant differences among the clusters in physical activity involvement (p <.01, η² =.11), health-related quality of life (p <.01, η² =.18), and physical fitness (p <.01, η² =.04). Findings support the importance of developing self-determination in Chinese college women’ physical activity, fitness and health-related quality of life.