Automaticity of Exercise Self-Regulatory Efficacy Beliefs in Adults With High and Low Experience in Exercise Self-Regulation

Abstract

Guided by social cognitive theory (SCT), we investigated whether exercise self-regulatory efficacy beliefs can be activated nonconsciously in individuals experienced and inexperienced in exercise self-regulation, and whether these beliefs are automatically associated with exercise self-regulation processes. The study used a 2 (Exercise Self-Regulation Experience Group) × 3 (Prime Condition) between-subjects design in which individuals experienced and inexperienced in exercise self-regulation were randomly assigned to receive subliminal, supraliminal, or no priming of exercise self-regulatory efficacy beliefs. Participants completed hypothetical diary entries, which were assessed for exercise self-regulatory efficacy and self-regulation expressions using content analyses with a SCT coding system and the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) text analysis program. For both exercise self-regulation experience groups, self-efficacy priming led to more expressions of low exercise self-regulatory efficacy and dysfunctional exercise self-regulation strategies compared with the control prime. For participants experienced in exercise self-regulation, supraliminal priming (vs. control priming) led to more expressions of high exercise self-regulatory efficacy and functional exercise self-regulation strategies. For the experienced groups, priming led to automaticity of exercise expressions compared with the control condition. For inexperienced participants in the subliminal prime condition, priming led to automaticity of self-regulatory efficacy beliefs and work-related goals compared with the control condition. Automatic activation of exercise self-regulatory efficacy and exercise self-regulation processes suggests that self-regulation of exercise behavior can occur nonconsciously.

Training During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices of 12,526 Athletes from 142 Countries and Six Continents

“…Athletes’ experience may be conceptualized as the extent to which they engage in exercise, training, and competition [ 18 ]. During lockdown, athletes may be more dependent on themselves, instead of on their coach, which further supports the importance of self-regulation ability (e.g., metacognitively, motivations, and actions) [ 19 ].…”

Exercise self-efficacy intervention in overweight and obese women

“…The findings accord with SCT’s premise that cognitive guidance systems are especially influential in the early stages of behavior change, and as long as individuals continue to believe in their abilities to perform an activity, they act habitually on that belief without having to reappraise their efficacy for every performance. This contention is supported by recent evidence that suggests appraisals of exercise self-efficacy can become automatic (Buckley and Cameron, 2010, 2011). It is suggested, therefore, that given the stability of scheduling and exercise-worries efficacy from 6 to 12 weeks, previously inactive intervention participants may have been habitually acting on enhanced beliefs about these exercise abilities.…”

Cognitive control in the self-regulation of physical activity and sedentary behavior

“…Strong evaluative biases have been prospectively associated with objectively measured physical activity behavior (Conroy et al, 2010). Also, experienced exercise self-regulators display non-conscious biases towards exercise self-regulatory processes (Buckley and Cameron, 2011a), and towards associating exercise self-regulatory concepts (e.g., self-efficacy) as self-relevant compared to those with less experience (Buckley and Cameron, 2011b). In contrast, less experienced exercise self-regulators appear biased towards associating exercise disengagement as self-relevant, and sedentary individuals, display negative biases toward physical activity (Bluemke et al, 2010).…”