Physical health correlates of overprediction of physical discomfort during exercise.
This study sought to determine if overprediction of physical discomfort prior to and following exercise was related to a number of self-report and objective measures of physical health status in a general population sample. Cross-sectional findings indicated a significant and specific relation between patterns of discomfort overprediction (vs under- or accurate prediction) and negative self-reported health status and attitudes to exercise, lower levels of physical activity, as well as poorer scores for resting heart rate, cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index (but not waist:hip ratio). Females were more likely to overpredict discomfort, were less active and had poorer physical health than males. The potential usefulness of the prediction match-mismatch paradigm for studying exercise-related appraisal processes as proximal determinants of physical activity are discussed. Information obtained from such studies could prove useful in public health education campaigns aimed at increasing levels of physical activity in the general population, particularly among the less active.
Poulton
Richie
R
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand. richiep@gandalf.otago.ac.nz
Trevena
Judy
J
Reeder
Anthony I
AI
Richard
Rose
R
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology