Implicit and Explicit Meanings of Physical Activity are Associated with Participation among Midlife Women

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0451 What physical activity means to individuals and how their meaning(s) relate to participation and adherence has been understudied in the literature. Moreover, the meaning of physical activity might have explicit and implicit properties, engaging both levels of information processing. PURPOSE: To determine if consciously reported physical activity goal orientations (explicit meaning) and emotional meaning of physical activity (implicit meaning) were differentially related to physical activity participation among women in midlife. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional data were analyzed from 62 healthy participants in a Midwestern university hospital women's health registry (M = 45.7, SD = 6.0 yrs). Goal orientations were coded using manifest content analysis. Emotional meaning was measured using the PANAS-X. Physical activity was measured with the Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire. Social support was measured with the Social Support for Exercise Scale. ANCOVA was used to test our model. RESULTS: Goal orientations (p < .05) and positive emotional meaning of physical activity (p < .01) were both significantly associated with participation controlling for social support (NS), F(5, 57) = 5.3, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.27. Participants with body shaping/appearance goal orientations did significantly less physical activity (M = 94.9, SD = 62.5) than those having approach goal orientations (M = 143.2, SD = 79.3). In addition, emotional meaning had a larger effect size than goal orientations in this model. CONCLUSIONS: What physical activity means explicitly and implicitly to midlife women is important to understanding their regular participation – or lack thereof. These results suggest that a physical activity body shape and/or appearance goal orientation might be detrimental for midlife womens participation. Because meaning embodies affect, and an affective evaluation is a major determinant of decision-making and choice, emotions may be a core component of a midlife woman's meaning of physical activity and a central determinant for her participation. Supported by T23NIMH #19996 and The University of Michigan's Women's Health Program.