Behavior Regulation Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ)

Abstract

The Behavior Regulation Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ) is a specialized psychometric scale designed to assess the quality of motivation guiding an individual’s engagement in physical exercise. Developed based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the BREQ measures four distinct regulatory styles—External, Introjected, Identified, and Intrinsic Regulation—which reflect a continuum of autonomy regarding exercise behavior. This 15-item instrument is crucial for research in sport and health psychology, allowing researchers to quantify the degree to which exercise is internally valued versus externally controlled, often summarized via the Relative Autonomy Index (RAI).

Keywords

Behavior Regulation Exercise Questionnaire, BREQ, Self-Determination Theory, exercise motivation, physical activity, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, Relative Autonomy Index.

Authors

Edel Mullan, David Markland, Don Ingledew, Philip M. Wilson, Wendy M. Rodgers, Shawn N. Fraser.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the BREQ is to provide a reliable and valid measure of the different types of motivation that underpin an individual’s decision to exercise. By classifying motivation along the SDT continuum, the scale helps researchers understand the psychological processes that predict long-term adherence and well-being outcomes related to physical activity.

The scale specifically aims to differentiate between non-autonomous (controlled) and autonomous (self-determined) forms of regulation. Autonomous motivation, encompassing Identified and Intrinsic regulation, is generally associated with greater persistence in exercise behavior, whereas controlled motivation, such as External Regulation, often leads to poorer maintenance over time.

Construct

The BREQ measures the psychological construct of behavioral regulation in exercise, framed within the theoretical context of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). SDT posits that human motivation exists on a continuum, defined by the level of autonomy experienced by the individual. The BREQ captures this continuum through four regulatory styles:

• External Regulation: Behavior is controlled by external demands, rewards, or coercion (e.g., exercising because a doctor insists).
• Introjected Regulation: Behavior is controlled by internal pressures, such as avoiding feelings of guilt or shame.
• Identified Regulation: Behavior is consciously valued and deemed important to personal goals, even if it is not inherently enjoyable.
• Intrinsic Regulation: Behavior is engaged in purely for the inherent pleasure, satisfaction, and enjoyment derived from the activity itself.

Validity

The validity of the BREQ has been strongly supported in the literature, particularly concerning its factor structure and predictive utility. Initial validation studies utilized Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test the hypothesized four-factor model derived from SDT. These studies confirmed that the four subscales—External, Introjected, Identified, and Intrinsic Regulation—are distinct but ordered components reflective of the motivational continuum.

The scale also demonstrates robust criterion validity, as autonomous forms of regulation (Identified and Intrinsic) are consistently shown to be positive predictors of greater exercise frequency, intensity, and long-term adherence, while controlled forms (External and Introjected) often predict instability and negative affective states related to exercise.

Reliability

The BREQ demonstrates high internal reliability, indicating that the items within each subscale consistently measure their respective regulatory construct. The internal consistency, measured using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients from validation studies, is strong across all factors:

• External Regulation (EXT): Alpha = .79
• Introjected Regulation (IJ): Alpha = .76
• Identified Regulation (ID): Alpha = .78
• Intrinsic Regulation (IM): Alpha = .90

These values suggest that the BREQ is a highly dependable instrument for measuring stable individual differences in exercise motivation, with the Intrinsic Motivation subscale showing particularly high internal consistency.

Factor Analysis

The development of the BREQ relied heavily on Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to establish its dimensional structure. The goal was to confirm that the scale items loaded onto four separate, yet theoretically linked, factors corresponding to the types of motivation specified by the Self-Determination Continuum. The CFA procedures confirmed the fit of the four-factor model (External, Introjected, Identified, and Intrinsic Regulation) over models assuming fewer factors or a single general motivation factor.

This empirical support for the four-factor structure validates the use of the BREQ scores both individually (as subscale scores) and combined (in the calculation of the Relative Autonomy Index) for assessing the regulatory processes underlying exercise behavior.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire

Format: 15 items, scored on a 5-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Original validation), translated versions exist in subsequent literature.

Population Group: Adults engaged in or contemplating physical exercise.

Age Group: Adult (18+)

Population Details: Used primarily in general adult populations, including college students, community members, and clinical samples focusing on health behavior change and adherence.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate items from 0 = “not true for me” to 4 = “very true for me.” Subscale scores are calculated by averaging or summing the items belonging to each regulation type:

• External Regulation: Items 1, 5, 9, 13
• Introjected Regulation: Items 2, 6, 10
• Identified Regulation: Items 3, 7, 11, 14
• Intrinsic Regulation: Items 4, 8, 12, 15

The overall degree of autonomous motivation is typically assessed using the Relative Autonomy Index (RAI), calculated as: RAI = (-2) (EXT) – IJ + ID + 2 (IM). The RAI provides a single index score where higher positive scores indicate greater self-determination.

Keywords

BREQ, motivation continuum, exercise adherence, physical activity regulation, self-determination, psychological scales, Relative Autonomy Index.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source material.

Correspondence Address: Refer to primary publication or Bangor University research group for original correspondence details (Mullan & Markland).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Behavior Regulation Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ) was originally developed and validated in 1997. It is widely used in academic research and is often available for non-commercial use, though specific permissions should be sought from the primary authors (Mullan and Markland). The original PDF describing the instrument and its validation can be downloaded here: http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~pes004/exercise_motivation/downloads/mullan%20&%20markland%201997.pdf

Reference’s

• Mullan, E., & Markland, D. (1997). Variations in self-determination across the stages of change for exercise in adults. Motivation and Emotion, 21, 349-362.
• Mullan, E., Markland, D., & Ingledew, D. (1997). A graded conceptualization of self-determination in the regulation of exercise behavior: Development of a measure using confirmatory factor analytic procedures. Personality and Individual Differences, 23, 745-752.
• Wilson, Philip M., Rodgers, Wendy M., and Fraser, Shawn N. (2002). Examining the Psychometric Properties of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 6(1), 1–21.

Items of the Behavior Regulation Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The 15 items of the BREQ, categorized by their corresponding regulation type, are:

• 1. I exercise because other people say I should (External Regulation)
• 2. I feel guilty when I don’t exercise (Introjected Regulation)
• 3. I value the benefits of exercise (Identified Regulation)
• 4. I exercise because it’s fun (Intrinsic Regulation)
• 5. I take part in exercise because my friends/family/partner say I should (External Regulation)
• 6. I feel ashamed when I miss an exercise session (Introjected Regulation)
• 7. It’s important to me to exercise regularly (Identified Regulation)
• 8. I enjoy my exercise sessions (Intrinsic Regulation)
• 9. I exercise because others will not be pleased with me if I don’t (External Regulation)
• 10. I feel like a failure when I haven’t exercised in a while (Introjected Regulation)
• 11. I think it is important to make the effort to exercise regularly (Identified Regulation)
• 12. I find exercise a pleasurable activity (Intrinsic Regulation)
• 13. I feel under pressure from my friends/family to exercise (External Regulation)
• 14. I get restless if I don’t exercise regularly (Identified Regulation)
• 15. I get pleasure and satisfaction from participating in exercise (Intrinsic Regulation)