title: Variety support and exercise adherence behavior: experimental and mediating effects.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the provision of variety (i.e., variety support) is related to exercise behavior among physically inactive adults and the extent to which the 'experience of variety' mediates those effects. One hundred and twenty one inactive university students were randomly assigned to follow a high or low variety support exercise program for 6 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3- and 6-weeks. Participants in the high variety support condition displayed higher levels of adherence to the exercise program than those in the low variety support condition [F(1, 116) = 5.55, p = .02, η(p)(2) = .05] and the relationship between variety support and adherence was mediated by perceived variety (β = .16, p < .01). Exercise-related variety support holds potential to be an efficacious method for facilitating greater exercise adherence behaviors of previously inactive people by fostering perceptions of variety.
authors.affiliation: Psychology of Exercise Health and Physical Activity Lab, School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, 122-6081 University Boulevard, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, Canada. bsylvest@alumni.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Sylvester
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, England, UK.
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Standage
authors.affiliation: Psychology of Exercise Health and Physical Activity Lab, School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, 122-6081 University Boulevard, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Desmond
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McEwan
authors.affiliation: Psychology of Exercise Health and Physical Activity Lab, School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, 122-6081 University Boulevard, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Svenja A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: School of Education, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lubans
authors.affiliation: School of Education, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Narelle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eather
authors.affiliation: Psychology of Exercise Health and Physical Activity Lab, School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, 122-6081 University Boulevard, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaulius
authors.affiliation: Psychology of Exercise Health and Physical Activity Lab, School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, 122-6081 University Boulevard, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Geralyn R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ruissen
authors.affiliation: Psychology of Exercise Health and Physical Activity Lab, School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, 122-6081 University Boulevard, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter R E
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Conselling Psychology, and Special Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Bruno D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Zumbo
authors.affiliation: Psychology of Exercise Health and Physical Activity Lab, School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, 122-6081 University Boulevard, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D055070:Resistance Training; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diverse; Mediation; Perceived variety; Physical activity; Resistance training