Automatic judgments of exercise self-efficacy and exercise disengagement in adults experienced and inexperienced in exercise self-regulation

Abstract

Objective We investigated whether judgments of exercise self-efficacy and exercise disengagement can be made automatically in situations of time pressure and information overload in individuals experienced and inexperienced in exercise self-regulation. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) was used as the guiding framework. Design The study utilized a 2 (Exercise Self-Regulation Experience Group) × 4 (Judgments) × 2 (Memory Load) × 4 (Exercise Self-Efficacy) mixed design with repeated measures on the latter three factors. Methods Participants ( N = 124) judged whether they ( self) or an average other person were confident in their ability to exercise and to avoid exercise. Judgments were made under both memory-load and no-memory-load conditions, and response times were assessed. Results The experienced exercise group had faster response times for self judgments (than for other judgments) of schedule, barrier and coping efficacy. The inexperienced exercise group did not; instead, they exhibited faster response times for self judgments (than for other judgments) of exercise disengagement. For both exercise experience groups, response times for s elf and other judgments of exercise disengagement were faster when under no memory load than when under memory load. Conclusions When under time pressure, individuals experienced in exercise self-regulation make automatic judgments of exercise self-efficacy, whereas inexperienced individuals make automatic decisions to avoid exercise. For both experience groups, when under memory overload, decisions to avoid exercise require attention.