Premium
Preparing for Physical Activity: Pedometer Acquisition as a Self‐regulatory Strategy
Author(s) -
Koring Milena,
Parschau Linda,
Lange Daniela,
Fleig Lena,
Knoll Nina,
Schwarzer Ralf
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
applied psychology: health and well‐being
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.276
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1758-0854
pISSN - 1758-0846
DOI - 10.1111/aphw.12003
Subject(s) - pedometer , psychology , physical activity , outcome (game theory) , self efficacy , physical therapy , action (physics) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , social psychology , medicine , physics , mathematics , mathematical economics , quantum mechanics
When people intend and plan to perform higher levels of physical activity, they do not start on impulse without preparing. Thus, preparation is a behavioral construct positioned between planning and target behavior. This may be reflected by the acquisition of sports equipment as well as monitoring devices such as pedometers. The research questions are who takes such preparatory action, whether picking up a complimentary pedometer can be predicted by self‐efficacy and outcome expectancies, and whether this kind of preparatory action facilitates subsequent physical activity. A longitudinal physical activity survey was conducted with 143 university students who were offered a complimentary pedometer. Collecting this free gift served as indicator of preparatory behavior. Outcome expectancies and self‐efficacy beliefs were specified as predictors of this behavior. Two weeks later, physical activity differences between the groups were determined. Collecting the pedometer was associated with higher levels of physical activity at follow‐up. Outcome expectancies failed to predict the pedometer collection, but self‐efficacy did. An interaction between these two factors indicated that self‐efficacy compensated for low outcome expectancies. Pedometer acquisition signifies a preparatory action that is facilitated by self‐efficacy. Positioned between planning and target behavior, they constitute a proximal self‐regulatory step towards health behavior change.