title: Varying the cause of a challenge to exercise identity behaviour: reactions of individuals of differing identity strength.
abstract: Research shows that people with stronger exercise identity (EXID) exhibit greater negative affect and self-regulatory efficacy (SRE) when behaviour is inconsistent with identity. However, related attributions have not been examined. Using social cognitive and identity theories, we examined causes of failing to exercise. In a two (EXID: stronger, weaker) by two (Cause: personally-controllable, situational) design, participants (N = 224) were randomized to Cause and read a condition-relevant no-exercise vignette. MANOVA revealed main effects for Cause and EXID, p's < .001. Participants explaining their Cause differed on attributional dimensions, and stronger EXID participants reported greater negative affect and higher SRE, p's < .001.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Canada. shaelyn.strachan@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Shaelyn M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Strachan
authors.forename: Parminder K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Flora
authors.forename: Lawrence R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Brawley
authors.forename: Kevin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Spink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D055815:Young Adult