Fitness correlates of obligatory versus health motives for exercise: An examination of men in the military

ObjectivesTo examine quantity of exercise and motives for exercise as predictors of men in the military’s health and fitness level.DesignParticipants completed a survey to address research questions of interest.MethodsOne-hundred and fourteen men who were active duty Air Force members, with a mean age of 31.43 years (SD = 7.43) and an average military time in service of 10.66 years (SD = 7.75), completed a modified version of the Reasons for Exercise Inventory, a survey assessing their quantity of exercise, and reported their most recent score on their Air Force Fitness Test.ResultsCorrelational analyses indicated a relation between quantity of exercise and men’s score on the Air Force Fitness Test and a relation between intrinsic motives for exercise and quantity of exercise. Intrinsic motivation was found to moderate the relation between quantity of exercise and men’s health and fitness score.ConclusionsMen in the military who exercise because of their military obligation are less likely to score high on the Air Force Fitness Test than are men who are motivated to exercise for health benefits.

► Men’s exercise quantity is positively related to their Air Force Fitness Test score.
► Intrinsic motivation is positively related to quantity of exercise.
► Motivation type moderated the relation between exercise quantity and fitness score.
► Men who exercise due to military obligation score no higher than non-exercisers.