SDT-Based Intervention for Exercise Motivation in Female Students
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Experimental group will receive a face-to-face psychoeducational program grounded in Self-Determination Theory. Control group will no receive any psychoeducational program.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Body Image, Physical Activity. Basic parameters: 18 years — 25 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Self-determination Theory-Based Psychoeducational Intervention to Enhance Autonomous Motivation for Exercise in Female University Students
Overview
Physical inactivity, maladaptive exercise motives, and body image concerns are highly prevalent among young adult women and are associated with reduced psychological well-being and increased risk for disordered eating. This study protocol describes a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate a multi-component psychoeducational intervention integrating Self-Determination Theory principles with functionality-oriented body image strategies to enhance autonomous motivation for exercise and promote psychological well-being among female university students. Female Health Sciences students aged 18-25 will be randomly allocated (1:1) to an experimental or control group following baseline assessment, and outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, and six-week follow-up. The six-session face-to-face intervention incorporates autonomy-supportive communication, competence-building activities, meaningful rationales, choice provision, and supportive relational climates, combined with functionality-based body image content. The primary outcome is autonomous motivation for exercise (BREQ-3; Relative Autonomy Index), and secondary outcomes include basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, physical activity levels, positive body image, and eating disorder risk. Linear mixed-effects models will be used under an intention-to-treat approach, and mediation analyses will test whether changes in psychological need satisfaction underlie improvements in motivational quality. The intervention is expected to promote healthier motivational regulation, increase physical activity engagement, strengthen positive body image, and reduce maladaptive exercise drivers. Findings aim to inform scalable, theory-driven preventive strategies for improving health and well-being among young women in university settings.
Interventions
- Behavioral Experimental group will receive a face-to-face psychoeducational program grounded in Self-Determination Theory. Control group will no receive any psychoeducational program
Participants in the experimental group will receive a face-to-face psychoeducational program grounded in Self-Determination Theory. The intervention consists of six 60-minute weekly group workshops (up to 15 participants per group). Sessions include autonomy-supportive communication, competence-building activities, functionality-oriented body image content, experiential tasks, and guided reflection. Facilitators are trained professionals in exercise science and psychonutrition who follow a stan
Primary outcome measures
- RAI continuous score [Time frame: Assessed at three time points: baseline (Day 0), immediately after the 6-week intervention (post-intervention), and at 6-week follow-up.]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Autonomy, competence, relatedness (satisfaction subscales) [Time frame: Assessed at three time points: baseline (Day 0), immediately after the 6-week intervention (post-intervention), and at 6-week follow-up.]
- Weekly MET-minutes [Time frame: Assessed at three time points: baseline (Day 0), immediately after the 6-week intervention (post-intervention), and at 6-week follow-up.]
- BAS-2 total score [Time frame: Assessed at three time points: baseline (Day 0), immediately after the 6-week intervention (post-intervention), and at 6-week follow-up.]
- EAT-26 total score [Time frame: Assessed at three time points: baseline (Day 0), immediately after the 6-week intervention (post-intervention), and at 6-week follow-up.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Female sex
- Age between 18 and 25 years
- Enrolled in Health Sciences programs (Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Physiotherapy, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing) at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
- Provision of written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- Current or previous diagnosis of an eating disorder
- Failure to complete baseline or post-intervention questionnaires
- Identification of an eating disorder after enrollment, which triggers referral according to the well-being protocol
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07506343 · UFV2026-22