Implementation intentions, occupational stress, and the exercise intention-behavior relationship.
Many individuals intend to exercise, but fail to link this intention to behavior. The present study examined the impact of an implementation intention intervention (i.e., instructions to form specific if-then plans) on an exercise intention-behavior relationship among working adults who varied in reported occupational stress levels. Results indicated that implementation intentions backfired, such that participants who did not form an implementation intention exercised significantly more than participants who formed an implementation intention.
Budden
Jill S
JS
Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA. jbudden@niu.edu
Sagarin
Brad J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D010934:Planning Techniques; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D017132:Workplace