title: Moderating effect of regulatory focus on burnout and exercise behavior.
abstract: Applying Higgins' regulatory focus, which assumes that people pursue goals using means that match their self-regulatory motivation, the authors examined whether individual's promotion- or prevention-focused motivations in work would decrease participation in physical activity. Participants were 197 employees (163 men, 34 women, M age = 39 yr.) in five different Taiwanese manufacturing firms. They responded to Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the Regulatory Focus Questionnaire, and Exercise Behavior at two different times, 8-10 weeks apart. Promotion-oriented regulatory focus significantly moderated the relationship between burnout and exercise, but prevention-oriented focus did not. BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, and work hours contributed small but significant amounts of variance. A prevention focus was associated with more time for physical activity, even when participants were tired, supporting regulatory focus theory.
authors.forename: Huai-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yueh-Tzu
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Cheng-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D000078329:Workforce