This systematic review examines the empirical literature on the relationships between constructs derived from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and exercise and physical activity outcomes. The review includes 66 empirical studies published up to June 2011, covering a wide range of physical activity contexts and populations. The findings consistently support a positive relationship between more autonomous forms of motivation and exercise behavior, with identified regulation showing slightly stronger predictive power in multivariate analyses compared to intrinsic motivation, which is more predictive in bivariate analyses. Intrinsic motives, such as challenge and enjoyment, are positively associated with exercise behavior across all samples. The review also finds mixed evidence for the role of other types of motives, such as health/fitness and body-related motives. Additionally, the literature consistently shows that competence satisfaction and intrinsic motives positively predict exercise participation. The majority of studies used cross-sectional designs, but comparable results were found across different study designs. The review concludes that SDT provides valuable insights into understanding exercise behavior, emphasizing the importance of autonomous regulations in fostering physical activity. However, there are still inconsistencies and mixed evidence regarding the specific relationships between SDT constructs and exercise.This systematic review examines the empirical literature on the relationships between constructs derived from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and exercise and physical activity outcomes. The review includes 66 empirical studies published up to June 2011, covering a wide range of physical activity contexts and populations. The findings consistently support a positive relationship between more autonomous forms of motivation and exercise behavior, with identified regulation showing slightly stronger predictive power in multivariate analyses compared to intrinsic motivation, which is more predictive in bivariate analyses. Intrinsic motives, such as challenge and enjoyment, are positively associated with exercise behavior across all samples. The review also finds mixed evidence for the role of other types of motives, such as health/fitness and body-related motives. Additionally, the literature consistently shows that competence satisfaction and intrinsic motives positively predict exercise participation. The majority of studies used cross-sectional designs, but comparable results were found across different study designs. The review concludes that SDT provides valuable insights into understanding exercise behavior, emphasizing the importance of autonomous regulations in fostering physical activity. However, there are still inconsistencies and mixed evidence regarding the specific relationships between SDT constructs and exercise.