BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS, INTRINSIC MOTIVATION AND AUTOTELIC EXPERIENCE PROPENSITY IN PHYSICAL EXERCISE

This study analyzed the influence of the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation on the autotelic experience propensity in physical exercise. A sample of 479 practitioners of non-competitive physical-sport activities of mean age 29.07 years was used. The Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale, the intrinsic regulation factor of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 and the autotelic experience factor of the Dispositional Flow Scale-2 were used. The results of the structural equation model showed. that perceived autonomy and relatedness positively predicted intrinsic motivation, which itself positively predicted the autotelic experience propensity. The model was invariant across gender. The results are discussed with regard to the importance of promoting autotelic experience on practitioners to increase physical-sport practice adherence.