What would you do? The effect of verbal persuasion on task choice

Physical activity self‐efficacy mediates the effect of symptom distress on exercise involvement among adolescents undergoing cancer treatment

“…However, there is a mismatch that will need to be seriously considered in designing such education: the gap between high self‐efficacy and low actual physical capability. This mismatch has been seen among healthy adolescents in relation to postural balance tasks (Lamarche, Gionfriddo, Cline, Gammage, & Adkin, ), and it can lead to physical harm if adolescents overestimate their actual abilities to perform physical activity.…”

“…It is easier to sustain a sense of self‐efficacy, especially when struggling with difficulties, if significant others express faith in one's capabilities rather than doubts (Bandura, ). Adolescents' self‐efficacy in postural balance could be enhanced with verbal feedback regarding participants' behaviours (Lamarche et al, ). Although verbal persuasion alone may have limited power to create enduring increases in self‐efficacy, it can bolster self‐change if the positive appraisal is realistic (Bandura, ).…”

Recalibrating disparities in perceived and actual balance abilities in older adults: a mixed-methods evaluation of a novel exergaming intervention

“…Previously, researchers have reported that effective older adult balance training is characterised by: “[lasting] 11–12 weeks, a training frequency of three sessions per week, a total number of 36–40 training sessions... and a total duration of 91–120 min of BT [balance training] per week” ([ 15 ], p. 1737). However, our results suggest that it may be possible to induce significant improvements in older adult postural control with carefully-designed, short-term interventions.…”

“…Researchers have reported that the provision of performance feedback can have a positive effect on both self-efficacy/balance confidence and task selection. For example, Lamarche, Gionfriddo, Cline, Gammage and Adkin [ 15 ] found that younger adults who received positive feedback (i.e., feedback which praised their performance on a balance task) reported greater levels of balance confidence and subsequently selected more challenging balance tasks, while those who received negative feedback demonstrated task selection evident of reduced risk-taking. It, therefore, seems logical to assume that: (1) under-confident individuals with excessive levels of fear who receive feedback that their balance abilities are better than previously assumed will experience increases in balance confidence (moving their perceived balance abilities to better align with their actual capabilities), while; (2) over-confident individuals who under-estimate their physiological fall-risk and receive feedback that their balance abilities are worse than previously assumed will experience decreases in balance confidence (once again moving their perceived balance abilities to better align with their actual capabilities).…”

“…However, research from the domain of motor learning demonstrates the profound effect that short-term (i.e., single-session) interventions utilising explicit, augmented feedback can have on perceptions of physical capabilities [ 17 – 19 ]; with these altered perceptions persisting following both a 24-h and 1-week retention period following the feedback [ 19 ]. Furthermore, Lamarche and colleagues [ 15 ] observed altered perceptions about balance in individuals receiving a single piece of performance feedback. Consequently, these findings indicate that it may be possible to target psychological determinants of elderly fall-risk through interventions which are shorter in duration than those needed to target the physical determinants of fall-risk.…”