Abstract
BackgroundPlanning and executive functions (EFs; inhibition, updating, shifting) are self-regulatory variables that help people to become and stay physically active. The aim of this study was to examine how and for whom a planning intervention affects physical activity (PA) behavior in the short term. Therefore, the mediating role of planning and the moderating role of intentions and EFs for the planning–behavior link were examined.MethodIn a randomized control trial with two treatment groups (planning group vs. control group) and two points of measurement (t1 and t2, 1 week apart), n = 200 students participated in both measurements. At t1, participants filled in standardized questionnaires assessing PA behavior, intention, and planning. Computer-based tests assessed the following EFs: inhibition, updating, and shifting. At t2, planning and PA behavior were measured again. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted.ResultsA significant increase in PA between t1 and t2 was found for the planning group compared with the control group. Furthermore, planning cognitions significantly mediated the effect of the planning group on behavior and intention, as well as the EF updating moderated the association between planning and behavior. Forming plans was particularly beneficial for participants with high intentions and lower updating performance.ConclusionPlanning enhances PA behavior, particularly when PA intention is high. Poor performance in updating can be compensated by planning since encouraging people to generate plans might facilitate automatic enactment of the behavior.
Highlights
Regular physical activity (PA)1 can be predicted by intentions and self-regulation [1, 2]
With regard to past PA at t1, 25.4% of the participants were not physically active at all, 22.7% were active between 0.5 and 1 h per week, 31.3% between 1.5 and 2 h per week, and 20.6% were physically active for 2.5 h per week or more
There was no significant correlation between inhibition and updating (r = − 0.06, p = 0.43). (Note again that higher updating scores indicate improved performance while higher inhibition and shifting scores indicate impaired performance.)
Summary
Regular physical activity (PA) can be predicted by intentions (i.e., motivation) and self-regulation [1, 2]. Self-regulatory techniques (e.g., planning) as well as cognitive variables (e.g., executive functions (EFs)). The Role of Planning and Planning Interventions on Physical Activity Behavior Theories such as the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA; [8]) differentiate between a motivational phase where intentions are formed and the volitional phase where the intended behavior is adopted and maintained [6, 8, 9]. Planning of a health behavior is based on the idea of implementation intentions [10], and it represents a prospective self-regulatory technique [11]. Planning and executive functions (EFs; inhibition, updating, shifting) are self-regulatory variables that help people to become and stay physically active. Forming plans was beneficial for participants with high intentions and lower updating performance
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