Exploring Psychological Need Satisfaction and Motivation to Exercise and Physical Activity in Qatar

Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Promoting physical activity requires a thorough understanding of physical activity behavior, its correlates, and its determinants. Based on self-determination theory (SDT), the current study aimed to assess self-reported physical activity behavior in a general adult population in Qatar and understand the associations between physical activity behavior with forms of behavioral regulation and psychological need satisfaction. A cross-sectional design was employed through an anonymous online-based survey within Qatar comprising demographic questions and three validated questionnaires. These questionnaires encompass the International Physical Activity Questionnaire -Short Form (IPAQ-SF) to measure physical activity behavior, the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ3) to measure the forms of behavioral regulation in exercise contexts, and Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise (PSNE) scale to measure perceived psychological need satisfaction in line with SDT. Respondents (N=347; n_females = 246, n_males = 101) were 21.6% non-Arab expats, 63.7% Arab expats, and 14.7% Qatari nationals. Results of descriptive statistics showed that the prevalence of sufficient physical activity measured through IPAQ-SF in ME·min per week was 66%, while 34% of participants were insufficiently active. Males (x̄= 1808.16, ± 2517.47 MET·min·wk^-1) were significantly more active than females (x̄= 1049.40 ± 1717.31 MET·min·wk^-1; P = 0.001), and reported more autonomous forms of regulation (i.e., self-determined motivation) (x̄_identified = 0.86, x̄_intrinsic = 2.64, x̄_integrated = 2.64) than females (x̄_identified = 2.58, x̄_intrinsic = 2.01, x̄_integrated = 2.36; P <0.05), as well as more perceived competence satisfaction (x̄= 3.89) than females (x̄= 3.49; P = 0.025). A bivariate correlation (Pearson r coefficients) showed that physical activity (PA) behavior described as total PA and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was positively and significantly (P< 0.01 ) associated with autonomous forms of regulation; identified (r_{total PA} = 0.16, r_MVPA = 0.15) integrated (r_{total PA} = 0.26, r_MVPA = 0.25), and intrinsic (r_{total PA} = 0.20, r_MVPA = 0.18), respectively, as well as perceived competence (r_{total PA} = 0.21, r_MVPA = 0.18; P<0.01). In summary, bivariate correlation results supported the theoretical tenets of self-determination theory. Additionally, the current study supports the application of SDT to advance the understanding of psychological associations of physical activity in a general adult population and adds to its relevance to an Arab context.