Positive Exercise Experience Facilitates Behavior Change via Self-Efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
Motivational processes can be set in motion when positive consequences of physical exercise are experienced. However, relationships between positive exercise experience and determinants of the motivational and the volitional phases of exercise change have attracted only sparse attention in research.


METHODS
This research examines direct and indirect associations between positive experience and motivational as well as volitional self-efficacy, intention, action planning, and exercise in two distinct longitudinal samples. The first one originates from an online observational study in the general population with three measurement points in time (N = 350) and the second one from a clinical intervention study in a rehabilitation context with four measurement points (N = 275).


RESULTS
Structural equation modeling revealed the following: Positive experience is directly related with motivational self-efficacy as well as intentions in both samples. In the online sample only, positive experience is associated with volitional self-efficacy. In each sample, experience is indirectly associated with action planning via motivational self-efficacy and intentions. Moreover, action planning, in turn, predicts changes in physical exercise levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest a more prominent role of positive experience in the motivational than in the volitional phase of physical exercise change. Thus, this research contributes to the understanding of how positive experience is involved in the behavior change process.
Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany linda.parschau@fu-berlin.de.
Linda
L
Parschau
Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Lena
L
Fleig
Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany German Centre of Gerontology, Berlin, Germany.
Lisa Marie
LM
Warner
Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Sarah
S
Pomp
Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Milena
M
Barz
Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Nina
N
Knoll
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, Australia Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Ralf
R
Schwarzer
Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
Sonia
S
Lippke
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
exercise; intention; motivation; phase-specific self-efficacy; volition