Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire – Portuguese Version

Abstract

Exercise constitutes one of the pillars of a healthy

lifestyle (USDHHS, 1996). Paradoxically, more

than 40% of Europeans are sedentary

(Eurobarometer 213, 2004), although some

interventions, at both community and individual

levels, have been established to improve this

situation. Some of these interventions are based

on Self-Determination Theory (SDT: Deci & Ryan,

1985), which state that more internalized types of

behaviour regulation lead to feelings of selfdetermination

in one’s chosen activities and,

consequently, to greater likelihood of behavioural

adherence. Today, SDT is one of the most popular

approaches to the study of exercise, thus the

cross-cultural validation of instruments that can

measure its constructs is a necessary step to

further advance in the study of exercise

motivation.