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Published on: March 7, 2019
Intervention effects on physical activity identity: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Ryan E Rhodes1, Colin M Wierts1,2, Sasha Kullman3
1School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Interventions can effectively change physical activity (PA) identity, influencing behavior. However, the impact on identity may be less pronounced than the direct changes observed in physical activity itself.
Area of Science:
- Health Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) identity, a self-categorization, is linked to behavior in observational studies.
- Experimental research on PA identity interventions is less explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To meta-analyze the effectiveness of interventions designed to alter PA identity and subsequent PA behavior.
- To synthesize experimental evidence on the impact of PA identity interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across five databases (completed March 2024).
- Inclusion of peer-reviewed, English-language studies with experimental/quasi-experimental PA designs measuring identity.
- Meta-analysis of 40 effect sizes (4939 participants).
Main Results:
- Interventions positively changed PA identity (g = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.11-0.24).
- A subset of studies (k=30) showed positive changes in PA (g = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41-0.81).
- Identity changes showed no significant heterogeneity; PA changes did (p < .001).
Conclusions:
- Interventions can successfully modify physical activity identity.
- Observed changes in PA behavior may be more substantial than changes in PA identity.
- Further moderator analyses indicated potential publication bias and variations based on intervention methods and theoretical underpinnings.
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