Positive Exercise Experience Facilitates Behavior Change via Self-Efficacy.
Linda Parschau, Lena Fleig, Lisa Marie Warner, Sarah Pomp, Milena Barz, Nina Knoll, Ralf Schwarzer, Sonia Lippke
Author Information
Linda Parschau: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany linda.parschau@fu-berlin.de.
Lena Fleig: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Lisa Marie Warner: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany German Centre of Gerontology, Berlin, Germany.
Sarah Pomp: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Milena Barz: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Nina Knoll: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Ralf Schwarzer: Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, Australia Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Sonia Lippke: Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
PURPOSE: 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. METHOD: 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.
