title: The two sides of goal intentions: Intention self-concordance and intention strength as predictors of physical activity.
abstract: The present research introduces an extended conceptualisation of self-concordance, which is considered an attribute not only of goals, but also of goal intentions. Based on a corresponding operationalisation, we investigate the interplay of both intention strength and intention self-concordance in the prediction of physical activity.
  
  
  
  Data were taken from a longitudinal study of 134 obese people who were asked to fill out a questionnaire three times every six months.
  
  
  
  Physical activity and intention self-concordance were measured by validated scales. Intentions strength was assessed by an item typically employed in the extant literature.
  
  
  
  Logistic regression analyses and path analyses showed both intention strength and self-concordance to be significant predictors of changes in physical activity over time. Additional analyses found self-efficacy to be a significant predictor of intention strength and self-concordance; for outcome expectations this was not the case.
  
  
  
  Findings support the idea that intention strength and self-concordance are two critical facets of a goal intention that need to be considered in the prediction of physical activity participation. Whereas intention strength refers to the degree of determination with which a goal intention is adopted, self-concordance rather captures the quality of this intention.
authors: a Department of Sport Science , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors: Reinhard
authors: R
authors: Fuchs
authors: b Department of Sport, Exercise and Health , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Seelig
authors: c Department of Health Psychology , Catholic University of Applied Sciences , Freiburg , Germany.
authors: Wiebke
authors: W
authors: Göhner
authors: a Department of Sport Science , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Schlatterer
authors: d School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University , Perth , Australia.
authors: Nikos
authors: N
authors: Ntoumanis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: goal intention; outcome expectations; physical activity; self-concordance; self-efficacy