Motivation to Move: Examining motivational regulations in a randomized pilot trial comparing physical activity prescription and supportive coaching

Despite the proven benefits of regular physical activity (PA), engagement rates in Canada remain low. Prescription to Get Active (RxTGA) aims to increase participation and enhance public health by promoting PA prescriptions written by healthcare providers. Because enrollment declined through the pandemic, the “Motivation to Move” study was created to assess the impact of RxTGA versus RxTGA plus a supportive coaching complement on psychological indices among adults over a 12-week intervention with a 6-month follow-up. All participants engaged with their prescriptions independently; treatment group participants received nine 30–45-minute telecommunication-based sessions with a trained activity coach. Motivational regulation data ascribed from self-determination theory were collected at baseline, 6-weeks, 12-weeks, and 3- and 6-months post-intervention, and analyzed using repeated measures ANOVAs. Overall, 269 individuals expressed interest; 77 were randomized. Forty-two (RxTGA-only = 18; RxTGA plus coaching = 24) completed the program and follow-up assessments. Results revealed that introjected regulation was significantly lower at the 6-month follow-up compared to 6-weeks for all participants. Identified and integrated regulation were significantly higher across time for the coaching group compared to the RxTGA-only group. Intrinsic regulation was significantly higher at all timepoints for the coaching group compared to baseline. In sum, activity coaching participants experienced greater improvements in the more autonomous regulations, an important finding since internalized forms of motivation are associated with greater PA adoption, engagement, and maintenance. Results are discussed in relation to the self-determination continuum, physical activity prescription, and the activity coaching model.