Mindfulness-Informed Guided Imagery to Target Physical Activity: A Mixed Method Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study

Abstract

Physical activity offers substantial mind-body health benefits and reduced mortality, yet many individuals are chronically underactive. Physical activity interventions may benefit from integrative approaches that join components of mindfulness and neurobiological models of behavior. Mindfulness increases one’s awareness of cognitions and physical sensations to potentially facilitate self-regulation, while neurobiological models such as the dual system model of health behavior offer guidance on improving physical activity intervention targets. This 2-phase study includes an initial development process to create brief (∼4 min) mindfulness informed guided imagery audio files that target distinct cognitive and affective processes to promote physical activity. In the second phase, participants completed a 2-week pilot intervention study to gather qualitative and quantitative data on intervention feasibility and acceptability. Participants endorsed the mindfulness informed guided imagery as easy to use, enjoyable and helpful. Over a 2-week intervention period participants reported positive shifts in behavior change, physical activity enjoyment, increased mindfulness during physical activity, and increased physical exercise self-efficacy and satisfaction. Interview data revealed that participants increased their frequency of physical activity and tended to experience positive affect during physical activity, engaged in future oriented thinking and were able to view physical activity in a more positive light. Findings support the feasibility and acceptability of an integrative online mindfulness informed guided imagery intervention to promote physical activity enjoyment and engagement. This study extends health behavior change intervention research and provides supporting evidence for a flexible and tailorable online mindfulness-based intervention.

Dual Mediating Effects of Exercise-related Cognitive Errors and Trait SelfControl on the Relationship between Trait Mindfulness and Physical Activity among Emerging Adults

“…The results of the correlation analysis revealed statistically significant associations between trait mindfulness, trait self-control, exercise cognitive errors, and PA in our cohort of Chinese emerging adults. Supporting the initial hypothesis (a), trait mindfulness was positively correlated with trait selfcontrol and PA, indicating that trait mindfulness was positively associated with PA. Our observation is consistent with previous research findings indicating that higher levels of trait mindfulness are associated with higher levels of PA (Black et al, 2012;Chatzisarantis & Hagger, 2007;Mitchell et al, 2021).…”

Habit Formation and Automaticity: Psychoneurobiological Correlates of Gamma Activity

“…It is proposed in the literature that habit formation needs an expanded view that requires the mindfulness aspect in order to be better applied to the treatment of complex issues (Gardner, 2012;Harvey et al, 2022;Lally et al, 2011;Lally & Gardener, 2013;Robinson et al, 2022;Rothman et al, 2009). A comprehensive review of this literature across different disciplines shows that mindfulness involves deliberate and intentional focused reflection (Casey et al, 2022;Liu et al, 2021;Mitchell et al, 2021;Wong et al, 2022), which are elements that need to be incorporated into intervention that has the effective use of habit formation and automaticity (Ariyasinghe & Arachchige, 2020; Lewis et al, 2021). To establish habit formation and automaticity, it therefore requires mindful self-regulation and action planning, not just a mindless repetitive action (Fleig et al, 2013;Sniehotta, 2009;Sniehotta & Presseau, 2012).…”