title: Age and sex differences in prospective effects of health goals and motivations on daily leisure-time physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine relationships between health goals, types of motivation for those goals, and daily leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and whether these relationships differ by age or sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2005 to 2008, 710 participants in and around Berlin, Germany provided life goals and motivational attributes of those goals at baseline, then reported LTPA daily for 25 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having (vs. not having) a goal of physical health predicted higher odds of engaging in LTPA for younger but not older participants (under age 30; OR=1.26, p=0.048), and was not related to duration of LTPA episodes. Effect of intrinsic motivation for the health goal differed by sex: for females, higher intrinsic motivation predicted higher odds of LTPA (OR=1.19, p=0.001), but was not related to duration. For males, higher intrinsic motivation predicted lower LTPA odds marginally (OR=0.70, p=0.054) but predicted longer duration (estimate=18.27 min, p<0.001). More approach motivation for the health goal predicted longer duration of LTPA episodes (0.67 min, p=0.022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One size does not fit all in LTPA intervention design. Future research should identify the mechanisms by which health goals and motivations affect health behavior.
authors: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham VA Medical Center, 508 Fulton St. (152), Durham, NC, USA 27705. Electronic address: matthew.gallagher@altisource.com.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Gallagher
authors: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham VA Medical Center, 508 Fulton St. (152), Durham, NC, USA 27705; Duke University Medical Center, USA. Electronic address: yancy006@mc.duke.edu.
authors: William S
authors: WS
authors: Yancy
authors: Georgia State University, Department of Psychology, 140 Decatur Street, Suite 1108, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. Electronic address: kswartout@gsu.edu.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Swartout
authors: Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, Warandelaan 2, Prisma building, room P209a, Netherlands. Electronic address: jjadenissen@gmail.com.
authors: Jaap J A
authors: JJA
authors: Denissen
authors: Free University Berlin, Department of Experimental Psychology/Neuropsychology, Room JK 27/206, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: anja.kuehnel@fu-berlin.de.
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Kühnel
authors: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham VA Medical Center, 508 Fulton St. (152), Durham, NC, USA 27705; Duke University Medical Center, USA. Electronic address: corrine.voils@duke.edu.
authors: Corrine I
authors: CI
authors: Voils
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006040:Goals; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors