The role of self-compassion, motivation to exercise, and exercising, in the association between women’s self-efficacy and psychological well-being

The present study explored women’s psychological well-being in the context of exercise, focusing on the relationship between self-efficacy and well-being, with intrinsic motivation to exercise as a mediator. Additionally, the study examined the moderating roles of self-compassion in the link between self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation, and of actual exercising in the link between intrinsic motivation and well-being. Online structured questionnaires were completed by 360 women aged 18–65, forming a non-random sample. Self-efficacy was positively associated with well-being, and intrinsic motivation to exercise partially mediated this relationship. Self-compassion moderated the link between self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation to exercise, whereby the positive association between these variables was stronger at high levels of self-compassion than at medium levels and not significant at low levels of self-compassion. However, actual exercising did not moderate the association between intrinsic motivation and well-being.