title: A Test of Learned Industriousness in the Physical Activity Domain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Theory of Learned Industriousness states that durable individual differences in industriousness are due in part to differences in the extent to which individuals were rewarded for high effort at an earlier time. Individuals rewarded for high effort during training are thought to generalize greater persistence to subsequent tasks than those rewarded for low effort. This study tested whether rewarded physical and/or mental effort at different intensities generalized to greater persistence at a subsequent mental task.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 inactive 18-25 year-olds were randomized into four groups: Low Mental Effort, High Mental Effort, Low Physical Effort, and High Physical Effort. Each completed group-specific effort training and a mental persistence task at baseline and posttest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factorial analysis of covariance revealed a significantdomain x effortinteraction on persistence (F[1,75]=4.93,p=.029). High Mental Effort and Low Mental Effort groups demonstrated similar gains in persistence (d=-0.08,p>.05) and points earned (d=0.11,p>.05) following effort training. High Physical Effort and Low Physical Effort diverged on persistence (d=-0.49,p=.004) but not points earned (d=-0.12,p>.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest either that training and test stimuli were too dissimilar to cue effects of associative learning in physical effort groups, or that effects were present but overpowered by the affective and neurocognitive consequences of an acute bout of intense aerobic physical activity. Findings do not support the Theory of Learned Industriousness nor generalization of effort across physical and mental domains.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Prevention Center, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University.
authors.forename: Eduardo E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.affiliation: Georgia Prevention Center, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University.
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: David X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Marquez
keywords: Exercise; Learned Industriousness; Persistence; Physical Activity