Intrinsic rewards predict exercise via behavioral intentions for initiators but via habit strength for maintainers.

Abstract

Regular exercise is thought to involve both reflective (e.g., intention) and automatic (e.g., habit) mechanisms. Intrinsic motivation is a reflective factor in exercise initiation; we propose that the experience of intrinsic exercise rewards (enjoyment; stress reduction) may come to function as a factor in exercise automaticity, or habit, and therefore of exercise maintenance. The current studies evaluate whether the relationship between intrinsic exercise rewards and exercise is mediated by behavioral intention for those newer to exercise (initiators) but mediated by behavioral habit strength for longer term exercisers (maintainers). In 2 studies, self-reported exercise stage (initiation vs. maintenance), intrinsic exercise rewards, intentions, and habit strength were measured at baseline. For outcomes, Study 1 concurrently assessed self-reported exercise in a large sample of U.S. college students (n ϭ 463), and Study 2 prospectively assessed objective activity using accelerometers for 1 month in a U.S. college student and staff population (n ϭ 114). Moderated mediation analyses resulted in support of the hypotheses: Habit strength significantly mediated the relationship between intrinsic rewards and exercise for maintainers in Studies 1 and 2 (unstandardized indirect effect ϭ 7.66 and 0.04, respectively; p Ͻ .05) but less strongly for initiators in Study 1 and not at all for initiators in Study 2. Intentions mediated the relationship for initiators (unstandardized indirect effect ϭ 0.94 and 0.02, respectively; p Ͻ .05) but not for maintainers, as expected. We concluded that intrinsic rewards may promote exercise repetition via intentional or reflective means in initiation but via habit strength in maintenance. Interventions that foster intrinsic exercise rewards may promote exercise maintenance through habitual action.

The role of physical activity enjoyment on the acute mood experience of exercise among smokers with elevated depressive symptoms

“…Physical activity enjoyment is often considered an intrinsic motivator for exercise (Phillips et al, 2016). Consistent with Self-Determination Theory (Ryan and Deci, 2000), intrinsic motivation is a key factor for long-term maintenance of exercise behaviors (Ryan et al, 1997).…”

“…Consistent with hedonic theory (Kahneman et al, 1999), people are more likely to do what they find pleasurable, while avoiding behaviors that they do not enjoy. Thus, greater physical activity enjoyment is posited to result in increased behavioral intentions to exercise, and in turn, sustained engagement in physical activity (Phillips et al, 2016). …”

(How) Does Affect Influence the Formation of Habits in Exercise?

“…The authors hypothesized that past behavior may be a stronger predictor of habit strength among intrinsically motivated participants, suggesting that enjoyment derived from autonomously motivated PA may strengthen the relationship between past behavior and habit development even more. In line with this, another study investigated intrinsic rewards such as enjoyment and found that intrinsic rewards predict exercise frequency via habit strengths for maintainers (and via behavioral intentions for initiators) (Phillips et al, 2016). Furthermore, Kaushal and Rhodes (2015) investigated the influence of affective judgments about exercise on habit formation in a longitudinal study among new gym members, and reported that affective judgments at baseline were the main predictor of habit development.…”

Challenging assumptions about habit: A response to Hagger (2019)

“…Rather, I highlight the importance of internal goals for complex habit formation and maintenance. Phillips, Chamberland, Hekler, Abrams, and Eisenberg (2016) showed that intrinsic rewards (positive reward, such as enjoyment, or negative reward, such as stress reduction) predicted exercise frequency via habit strength for individuals in a maintenance stage of change. Intrinsic goals, or motivation, may therefore be fundamental to physical activity habit (without intrinsic reward, the habit would cease/extinguish).…”