Physical Activity, Well-Being, and the Basic Psychological Needs: Adopting the SDT Model of Eudaimonia in a Post-Cardiac Rehabilitation Sample.

BACKGROUND

The theoretical conceptualisation of hedonic (HWB; pleasure) and eudaimonic (EWB; meaning) well-being has rarely been examined among cardiac rehabilitation (CR) graduates, including its relationship with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). First, this study examined the potential bidirectional relationship between MVPA and HWB/EWB. Second, this study tested the self-determination theory (SDT) model of eudaimonia where MVPA was set to predict the model's pathway between eudaimonic motives (seeking meaning), the basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), and both types of well-being.

METHODS

Individuals who completed a CR program within the last five years (N = 57) answered well-being and basic psychological needs questionnaires and wore an accelerometer to measure MVPA at baseline and three months later.

RESULTS

MVPA predicted changes in both HWB (β = .13) and EWB (β = .13) three months later. Only the EWB-MVPA relationship (β = .16) approached significance, hinting at a bidirectional relationship. The SDT model of eudaimonia was supported and MVPA had a moderate to small relationship with eudaimonic motives.

CONCLUSION

This study showed a potential bidirectional relationship between MVPA and EWB and tested the SDT model of eudaimonia with MVPA in post-cardiac rehabilitation. Future interventions could look to simultaneously promote eudaimonia and MVPA among this population.