Development of a tool for quantifying need-supportive coaching in technology-mediated exercise classes. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schneider, Margaret; Woodworth, Amanda; Arumalla, Sathvika; Gowder, Conor; Hernandez, Julissa; Kim, Ashley; Moorthy, Brinthy
• Is Part Of: Psychology of sport and exercise. Volume 64(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: Technology-mediated -- Self-determination theory -- Relatedness -- Competence -- Autonomy; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Psychology; Sports; Exercise; Societies, Medical; Sports -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; Exercice -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; 613.71019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102321
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1469-0292

Abstract

Abstract: Technology-mediated interventions to promote physical activity are growing in popularity and appear to be effective for supporting continued adherence for some people. Some of this efficacy may be related to the cultivation of motivation that is self-determined (i.e., autonomous), which is posited to arise from the satisfaction of three basic psychological needs: competence, relatedness, and autonomy. We developed an observational coding tool for quantifying the frequency of needs-supportive and needs-indifferent coaching during technology-mediated exercise classes. The Peloton Instructor Needs-Supportive Coaching (PINC) tool shows evidence of reliability (average kappa = .91). We also demonstrated the utility of the PINC for characterizing needs-supportive coaching profiles across 4 different types of classes (Beginner, Power Zone, Groove, and High-Intensity Interval Training) and the construct validity of the PINC with respect to examining the relationship of needs-supportive coaching to intrinsic motivation. The PINC offers a useful tool with which future studies could evaluate whether and how instructor coaching impacts self-determined motivation to exercise within a technology-mediated context. Highlights: An observational tool was developed to quantify Peloton Instructor Needs-supportive Coaching. Evidence is presented for high inter-rater reliability of the PINC. The PINC is sensitive to differences between Peloton cycling class types. The database used in the analyses is publicly available.