Do changes in autonomous motivation mediate the effect of the EuroFIT programme on physical activity?

(Journal article, International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 2025)                 open access

Gender-sensitized approaches to health behaviour change in sports settings have generated positive health outcomes and health behaviours, but theoretical constructs integrated in these interventions have not been tested as mediators of change. The European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) programme used motivational strategies from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to promote health behaviour change in overweight male soccer fans (n = 1113; mean age of 45.9 [SD = 9.0] years old and mean BMI of 33.2 kg/m² [SD = 4.6]) across 15 professional soccer club settings in the UK, Portugal, Norway and the Netherlands. We found some evidence that men’s identification towards their club moderated the mediating effect of autonomous motivation on objective PA, but not self-reported PA. This represents preliminary evidence that men’s club identification can influence the relation between a key construct in SDT and sustained PA.