Date of Award

January 2013

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Exercise and Sport Science

First Advisor

Louisa A. Summers

Department Affiliation

Exercise and Sport Science

Abstract

Previous research has investigated the relationship between motivation and personality in relation to exercise participation, while the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between these two factors in relation to weight loss. Weight and fitness scores were measured initially and at 15 month follow-up. Participants completed personality and motivation inventories at follow-up. Contrary to the hypothesis, external motivation was positively correlated with weight loss; a finding that could be due to the program design or unique to weight loss. Neuroticism was positively correlated with external motivation and negatively correlated with identified regulation. Improved fitness score was negatively correlated with agreeableness and extraversion was positively correlated with weight loss. These results indicate that weight loss behavior is different from exercise behavior and needs to be further examined.

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