Associations of internal/institutional motivation with physical activity among Chinese college students: exercise self-efficacy as a mediator.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of the present study were to compare whether male and female college students differ in internal motivation, institutional motivation, exercise self-efficacy, and physical activity; to evaluate the relationships among these four variables; and to analyze the role of exercise self-efficacy in the relationships between internal motivation, institutional motivation, and physical activity. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A total of 970 college students (35.9% males) completed the Intrinsic Motivation Scale, Institutional Motivation Scale, Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, and Physical Activity Rating Scale. This study used SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 23.0 for data analysis. RESULTS: Compared with female college students, male college students reported higher scores in intrinsic motivation, institutional motivation, exercise self-efficacy, and physical activity levels (all p < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that intrinsic motivation, institutional motivation, and exercise self-efficacy were all significantly positively correlated with physical activity (all p < 0.01). Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that intrinsic motivation was directly and positively correlated with college students' physical activity and indirectly influenced physical activity through exercise self-efficacy (model fit indices were acceptable: CMIN/DF = 5.602, CFI = 0.918, TLI = 0.911, RMSEA = 0.069, SRMR = 0.0542, p < 0.01). Institutional motivation showed no direct correlation with physical activity; its effect was indirect, operating through self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Enhancing self-efficacy and internal motivation-both in and beyond physical education classes-appears to be an effective way to promote physical activity. Gender differences should also be considered in class design. Giving students more choice may help improve their activity levels.