Affective response to exercise as a component of exercise motivation: Attitudes, norms, self-efficacy, and temporal stability of intentions

Bethany M Kwan, Angela D Bryan, Bethany M Kwan, Angela D Bryan

Abstract

PROBLEM: A positive affective response is associated with increased participation in voluntary exercise, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are not well known. Consistent with a Theory of Planned Behaviour perspective, we tested whether affective response to exercise leads to greater motivation in terms of attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy and intentions to exercise. We were also specifically interested in whether a positive affective response leads to more temporally stable intentions. METHOD: Participants (N = 127) self-reported Theory of Planned Behaviour constructs and exercise behavior at baseline and three months later, and provided reports of exercise-related affect during a 30-minute bout of moderate intensity treadmill exercise at baseline. RESULTS: We show that participants who experience greater improvements in positive affect, negative affect and fatigue during exercise tended to report more positive attitudes, exercise self-efficacy and intentions to exercise three months later. Affective response was not predictive of subjective norms. As hypothesized, positive affective response was associated with more stable intentions over time. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a positive affective response to acute bouts of exercise can aid in building and sustaining exercise motivation over time.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Path models of the relationships between in-task affect and motivation at follow-up. 1a: Positive Affect (PSAF), χ2(1) = .19, p = .66, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = .00 (.00, .18); 1b: Fatigue (FATG), χ2(2) = 1.12, p = .57, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = .00 (.00, .15); 1c: Negative Affect (NGAF), χ2(2) = 1.86, p = .40, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = .00 (.00, .17); 1d: Tranquility (TRNQ), χ2(2) = 1.62, p = .45, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = .00 (.00, .17). Affect at T0: Baseline affect. ATT: Attitudes; SELFEF: Self-Efficacy; NORMS: Subjective Norms; INTENT: Intentions. Covariances between attitudes, self-efficacy and norms were estimated (all were positive and significant) but not shown for clarity of presentation. Paths estimated but not significant are shown as dashed lines. *p < .05, **p < .01 Unstandardized regression coefficients are shown.

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