Summary of Theories & Model of Exercise Adherence comes mainly from 2 books – Lox, et.al., The Psychology of Exercise (2014), & Willis & Campbell, Exercise Psychology, (1992).
Theories supposedly enable us to understand relationships among the many variables believed to influence exercise behavior. A model is a visual representation of a phenomenon or behavior. Models can represent a theory, but many models do not include a theoretical explanation. Theories of exercise behavior have long been based in motivation. Motivation is the degree of determination, drive, or desire evident in the quest for a behavioral goal. The two main categories of motivation are intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic comes from within, such as fun, sense of challenge in exercise, and/or personal improvement. Extrinsic motivation is driven by force outside the individual, such as health benefits, social recognition, rewards like money, trophies, t-shirts, etc. Long term exercise maintenance is generally associated with the presence of intrinsic motivation like exercising for pleasure and self satisfaction.
I favor theories that can be applied to solutions for problems in the real the world, such as how can we increase exercise adherence and the health benefits that go along with it. Practical theories and models provide a blueprint on which to base interventions. Of course, exercise psychology research is not as exacting as math research. In math most theorems or theories can be replicated without a doubt. However, with human behavior so variable exercise psychology theories may not be replicated with different subjects and situations. So individuals have to pick out what they believe is relevant for themselves in the effort to begin and sustain long term exercise adherence. For example, there is a lot of research that says group exercise with its comradeship and social alliances helps exercise motivation. However, for myself as a teacher, the last thing I wanted to do after a long day at school was get back in a group. I needed the solitude of a long, quiet run alone out in the desert of Tucson.