Physical Activity and Variation in Momentary Behavioral Cognitions: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.
BACKGROUND
Decisions to perform moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) involve behavioral cognitive processes that may differ within individuals depending on the situation.


METHODS
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) was used to examine the relationships of momentary behavioral cognitions (ie, self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, intentions) with MVPA (measured by accelerometer). A sample of 116 adults (mean age, 40.3 years; 72.4% female) provided real-time EMA responses via mobile phones across 4 days. Multilevel models were used to test whether momentary behavioral cognitions differed across contexts and were associated with subsequent MVPA. Mixed-effects location scale models were used to examine whether subject-level means and within-subjects variances in behavioral cognitions were associated with average daily MVPA.


RESULTS
Momentary behavioral cognitions differed across contexts for self-efficacy (P = .007) but not for outcome expectancy (P = .53) or intentions (P = .16). Momentary self-efficacy, intentions, and their interaction predicted MVPA within the subsequent 2 hours (Ps < .01). Average daily MVPA was positively associated with within-subjects variance in momentary self-efficacy and intentions for physical activity (Ps < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Although momentary behavioral cognitions are related to subsequent MVPA, adults with higher average MVPA have more variation in physical activity self-efficacy and intentions. Performing MVPA may depend more on how much behavioral cognitions vary across the day than whether they are generally high or low.
Dept of Preventive Medicine, Institute for Prevention Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Trevor A
TA
Pickering
Jimi
J
Huh
Stephen
S
Intille
Yue
Y
Liao
Mary Ann
MA
Pentz
Genevieve F
GF
Dunton
D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D000072860:Ecological Momentary Assessment; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology