Motivation and Exercise in Rural Postmenopausal Women

Authors

  • Lori Sue Fitton University of Iowa http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6100-3211
  • Kim Schafer Astroth Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University
  • Anne E. Cox Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
  • Denise Wilson Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University
  • Caroline Mallory Indiana State University
  • Sheryl Jenkins Mennonite College of Nursing @ Illinois State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v20i2.623

Keywords:

Motivation,  Exercise,  Rural Postmenopausal Women, Self Determination Theory, Osteoporosis Awareness

Abstract

Purpose:  The purpose of this research is to explore the relationships among psychological needs, motivation regulations, autonomy support, and physical activity (PA) behavior in rural and urban postmenopausal women within the Self Determination Theory (SDT) framework.

Sample:  The convenience sample included 114 rural postmenopausal women (RPMW) and 56 urban postmenopausal women (UPMW) recruited from three Midwestern states.

Method: Subjects completed surveys in paper form which included instruments to measure basic psychological needs, motivation regulations, autonomy support, and PA behavior.

Findings: Results indicate a mix of relationships among psychological needs and intrinsic motivation in rural and urban women. There was a significant correlation (r = .274, n = 169, p = 0.04) between intrinsic motivation and relatedness in RPMW, indicating these women find motivation in meaningful relationships.

Conclusions: The strength of this research exists in the introduction of a significant correlation between intrinsic motivation to exercise and relatedness in RPMW. Previous work with SDT has shown autonomy and competence as motivating factors regarding physical activity behavior in women. This research indicates that for RPMW relatedness is also an important determinant of intrinsic motivation. This data suggests that psychological needs and motivational regulations are dissimilar for RPMW and UPMW regarding exercise behavior.

DOI:  http://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v20i2.623

 

Author Biographies

  • Lori Sue Fitton, University of Iowa

    PhD, APRN

    Clinical Instructor, Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation

  • Kim Schafer Astroth, Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University

    PhD, RN

    Director of Graduate Program and Professor

  • Anne E. Cox, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA

    PhD

    Associate Professor Kinesiology

  • Denise Wilson, Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University

    PhD, APRN, FNP, GNP

    Professor Emeritus

  • Caroline Mallory, Indiana State University

    PhD, RN

    Dean College of Health and Human Services

  • Sheryl Jenkins, Mennonite College of Nursing @ Illinois State University

    PhD, RN

    Professor Mennonite College 

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Published

2020-12-10

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2020): Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 20(2)

Section

Articles

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