Abstract
The reflective–impulsive model (RIM) has been employed to explain various health behaviors. The present study used RIM to predict a spontaneous physical activity behavior. Specifically, 107 participants (75 females; Mage = 20.6 years, SD = 1.92 years) completed measures of (1) reflections about spontaneous physical activity, as indexed by self-report questionnaire; (2) impulse toward physical activity, as indexed by the manikin task; and (3) (state) self-control, as indexed by the Stroop task. The dependent variable was whether participants took the stairs or the elevator to the study laboratory. Results revealed reflections toward spontaneous physical activity positively predicted stair-taking. Further, a significant impulse toward physical activity × self-control interaction was observed. This interaction revealed that participants with high self-control who had a high impulse toward PA were more likely to take the stairs than their counterparts with a low impulse toward PA, whereas the opposite was the case for participants with low self-control. However, the impulse × self-control interaction was not significant when employing a self-report measure of trait self-control. Thus, RIM may be a good framework with which to consider spontaneous physical activity, but careful consideration must be given when examining variables within RIM (e.g., the boundary condition of self-control).
Highlights
Physical inactivity is a worldwide phenomenon, with about one-third of adults throughout the world failing to meet minimum physical activity recommendations [1]
The relationship between impulse toward physical activity and stair-taking was moderated by self-control. This moderation revealed the unexpected finding that participants with high self-control who had a high impulse toward physical activity were more likely to take the stairs than their counterparts with a low impulse toward physical activity, whereas the opposite was the case for participants with low self-control
The regression revealed three participants whose data excessively influenced the regression model (Cook’s distances ≥ 1.09; [16]), so these participants’ data were removed. If these participants remain in the analysis, the only primary result that changes in terms of statistical significance is that reflections toward spontaneous physical activity becomes marginally nonsignificant (p = 0.079)
Summary
Physical inactivity is a worldwide phenomenon, with about one-third of adults throughout the world failing to meet minimum physical activity recommendations [1]. This lack of physical activity causes an enormous burden to individuals’ health, as physical inactivity is implicated in 6–10% of all deaths from non-communicable diseases [2]. Spontaneous physical activity is a contributing component to non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), which is an important contributor to health, given its contribution to body composition [4,5]. As NEAT was not identified as a major contributor to health until the turn of the last century [5], the psychological determinants of spontaneous physical activity have received little attention.
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