Automatic approach-avoidance tendency toward physical activity, sedentary, and neutral stimuli as a function of age, explicit affective attitude, and intention to be active

Abstract

Using computerized reaction-time tasks assessing automatic attitudes, studies have shown that healthy young adults have faster reaction times when approaching physical activity stimuli than when avoiding them. The opposite has been observed for sedentary stimuli. However, it is unclear whether these results hold across the lifespan and when error rates and a possible generic approach-avoidance tendency are accounted for. Here, reaction times and errors in online approach-avoidance tasks of 130 participants aged 21 to 77 years were analyzed using mixed-effects models. Automatic approach-avoidance tendencies were tested using physical activity, sedentary, and neutral stimuli. Explicit attitudes toward physical activity and intention to be physically active were self-reported. Results accounting for age, sex, gender, level of physical activity, body mass index, and chronic health condition confirmed a main tendency to approach physical activity stimuli (i.e., faster reaction to approach vs. avoid; p = .001) and to avoid sedentary stimuli (i.e., faster reaction to avoid vs. approach; p < .001). Results based on neutral stimuli revealed a generic approach tendency in early adulthood (i.e., faster approach before age 53 and fewer errors before age 36) and a generic avoidance tendency in older adults (i.e., more errors after age 60). When accounting for these generic tendencies, results showed a greater tendency (i.e., fewer errors) to avoid than approach sedentary stimuli after aged 50, but not before (p = .026). Exploratory analyses showed that irrespective of age, participants were faster at approaching physical activity (p = .028) and avoiding sedentary stimuli (p = .041) when they considered physical activity as pleasant and enjoyable (explicit attitude). However, results showed no evidence of an association between approach-avoidance tendencies and the intention to be physically active. Taken together, these results suggest that both age and explicit attitudes can affect the general tendency to approach physical activity stimuli and to avoid sedentary stimuli.

Training older adults to inhibit the automatic attraction to sedentary stimuli: A cognitive-bias-modification protocol

“…The reliability of this measure of explicit attitudes has been validated with a Cronbach's alpha greater than 0.89 [74]. In a recent study of older adults, Cronbach's alpha was 0.92, further supporting the reliability of this measure [36].…”

“…A contextual approach-avoidance task will be used to measure automatic approach and avoidance tendencies toward physical activity and sedentary behaviours [26,36]. Participants will be asked to move a manikin (i.e., an avatar) on the screen "toward" (approach condition) and "away" (avoidance condition) from images depicting physical activity and sedentary behaviours by pressing keys on a keyboard.…”

“…Engagement in physical activity is governed not only by reflective processes, but also by automatic affective reactions that operate outside of conscious awareness [31]. For example, in active individuals, stimuli associated with physical activity attract attention [32,33], elicit positive affective reactions [34,35], and activate approach tendencies [36]. These automatic affective reactions are thought to facilitate the translation of intention into action [37,38].…”

Kinesiophobia and physical activity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The studies based on the TSK-17 or TSK-Heart (mean range: 17 to 68) reporting the highest levels of kinesiophobia were those involving participants with a cardiovascular condition (41.4 to 49.7), followed by studies testing participants with arthritis (31.8 to 45.27) or chronic pain (30.5 to 44.6). Levels of kinesiophobia were lower in participants with a neurological (36.6 to 41), pulmonary (20.7 to 39.6), women health (36), or surgical condition (32.9 to 35.9), and in healthy adults (18.9 to 39.0).…”

“…The relationship between kinesiophobia and physical activity can be explained by theories suggesting that the perception of a cue related to physical activity automatically activates the concept of physical activity as well as the unpleasant (or pleasant) affective memories associated with this concept [32][33][34][35] . This activation results in an impulse that favors the tendency to avoid (or approach) physical activity 36 . Thus, negative affective associations are likely to hinder physical activity.…”