Can the Easter break induce a long-term break of exercise routines? An analysis of Danish gym data using a regression discontinuity design

Abstract

ObjectivesMany sedentary individuals are aware of the health benefits of regular physical activity and start becoming more physically active. Yet, despite good intentions, many struggle to keep up initial exercise levels and experience a decline in exercise frequency. A possible explanation is that it is hard to establish habits or routines, and that such routines—once established—might be easy to break. In this paper, we analyse whether a break in habitual/routine behaviour—induced by the Easter holidays—results in individuals exercising less after the break.MethodsThe study included a sample of 1210 members of a Danish chain of fitness centres who were gym members at least since the preceding New Year’s Day. Participants granted access to gym attendance data, which were automatically recorded when entering the gym. We use a regression discontinuity design encompassing a time period of 10 weeks prior to and 10 weeks after Easter.ResultsWe found a significant and relevant discretionary drop in exercise frequency right after the Easter holidays of 0.24 times per week (p=0.001) corresponding to a fall of 12.25% compared with the week prior to the Easter holidays. The effect was especially profound for individuals below retirement age and for individuals who had attended the gym with a higher frequency (twice a week or more) in the 6 weeks prior to the Easter break.DiscussionThis information is potentially relevant for helping individuals maintain an exercise habit. Motivational support should focus on the time period after normative breaks, such as Easter or other holidays.

Evolution of Physical Activity Habits After a Context Change: the Case of COVID-19 Lockdown

“…These results are in line with the idea that a context change can disrupt existing habits (Verplanken & Wood, 2006). Nevertheless, while previous studies only indirectly inferred PA habits' disruption through changes in behaviours (Fredslund & Leppin, 2019;Wood et al, 2005), our study is the first to provide a formal test of this assumption by assessing habits both before and after a context change. By contrast, an increase in PA habits was observed among individuals with weak before-lockdown habits.…”

“…Yet, for PA habits, this hypothesis has received little empirical support (Gardner, 2015). Only two studies have provided indirect support to the discontinuity hypothesis by showing a decrease in PA behaviours after holidays (Fredslund & Leppin, 2019) or after a move to university (Wood et al, 2005). However, PA habits were not directly assessed, thereby preventing the assessment of how habits evolved following a context change.…”

Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Exercising in Fitness Centres among Adults with and without Physical Disabilities: A Scoping Review

“…Of the 76 papers [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 ,…”

Distinguishing initiation from maintenance in the Integrated Behavior Change Model

“…Although researchers have identified habitual action as a long-lasting process that is wellsuited for promoting behavioral maintenance (Strack & Deutsch, 2004;Wood & Neal, 2007), it should be noted that cue-response relationships can be disrupted and are not impervious to short or long-term contextual changes. For example, working adults who go on vacation have their gym attendance habit disrupted post-vacation (Fredslund & Leppin, 2019). Additionally, Acland and Levy (2015) found that university students' exercise habits were disrupted by a midsemester break.…”

“…Additionally, identity is likely a protective factor for individuals with exercise habits who experience short-or long-term changes in their context or context stability (such as when transitioning to a new house or job or when going on vacation). These short-and long-term changes have been shown to make habitual behaviors more difficult to sustain (e.g., Fredslund & Leppin, 2019;Wood et al, 2005).…”