Psychological Correlates of Quitting Exercise Habits and Intention to Restart Exercise in Japanese High and Junior High School Students

Abstract

In order to maintain an exercise habit, it is important to repress the urge to quit the exercise habit that had been formed once. If it is stopped, it is important to promote restarting some sort of exercise. In this study, we have examined the correlation between quitting an exercise habit and intention to restart exercise, and psychological factors for exercise and sports for high and junior high school students. A questionnaire including items for psychological factors (enjoyment, benefit and psychological barrier scales for exercise and sports) calibrated by item response theory was distributed to 1,544 high and junior high school students from 1st grade of junior high to 2nd grade of high school. The result of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that quitting exercise was explained by psychological barriers (p<0.001), grades (p<0.001) and sex (p<0.01). The odds ratio of psychological barrier was 2.67 when the psychological barrier scale score increased 1.0 (equivalent to 1.1 SD increase in the subject group). Intention to restart the exercise habit was explained by enjoyment (p<0.001), grade (p<0.001) and time elapse after quitting (p<0.001). The odds ratio of enjoyment was 2.52 when the enjoyment scale score increased 1.0 (equivalent to about 1.1 SD increase in the subject group). The important knowledge from the results is that quitting exercise and intention to restart the exercise habit were explained by different psychological factors. The psychological barrier should be considered when planning intervention for prevention of quitting exercise habit. On the other hand, the enjoyment of exercise is an important factor to promote restarting some sort of exercise.