Exploring Relationships between Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction, Motivation and Physical Activity among Transplant Recipients

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among basic psychological need satisfaction, exercise motivation and health-enhancing physical activity as a test of self-determination theory with transplant recipients. Participants (N = 138; Mage= 48 years; 58% male), who were primarily heart, liver, lung, and kidney transplant recipients, completed scientifically-supported questionnaires. Controlling for transplant-specific factors (i.e., age at transplant, time waiting for transplant, and time since transplant), hierarchical regression analyses revealed that self-determined motivation was associated with physical activity and self-determined motivation partially mediated the relationship between psychological needs, specifically perceptions of competence, and physical activity (R2 = .25). Findings suggest basic psychological need satisfaction and exercise motivation have positive implications associated with health-enhancing physical activity among transplant recipients.