Self-regulation of exercise behavior in the TIGER study

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Exercise Science
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Self-regulation traits, including self-efficacy and self-motivation, are crucial for sustained exercise behavior.
• Understanding the mediating mechanisms through which these traits influence exercise is essential for effective interventions.
• Previous research often relied on self-reported physical activity, limiting insights into objective adherence and compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate experiential and behavioral change processes as mediators in the relationship between self-regulation traits (self-efficacy, self-motivation) and exercise behavior.
• To control for the influence of exercise enjoyment on exercise behavior.
• To examine objective measures of exercise adherence and compliance.

Main Methods:

• Employed structural equation modeling to analyze questionnaire data from a diverse participant sample.
• Defined adherence based on session attendance (80% or more).
• Defined compliance based on meeting exercise duration and intensity prescriptions (30 minutes at prescribed heart rate).

Main Results:

• Self-motivation and self-efficacy (inversely) directly predicted exercise attendance.
• Behavioral change processes mediated the relationship between self-regulation traits and attendance.
• Exercise enjoyment and self-efficacy (inversely) predicted exercise compliance.

Conclusions:

• Self-regulatory behavioral processes, within the transtheoretical model, effectively predict exercise adherence.
• These findings extend the evidence for self-regulation's role in exercise behavior, particularly concerning objective adherence.
• The study highlights the importance of self-regulation in promoting consistent engagement with prescribed exercise routines.