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Physical Activity in Peri‐Urban Communities: Testing Intentional and Implicit Processes within an Ecological Framework
Author(s) -
Olson Jenny L.,
Ireland Michael J.,
March Sonja,
Biddle Stuart J. H.,
Hagger Martin S.
Publication year - 2020
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.12182
Subject(s) - automaticity , psychology , normative , neighbourhood (mathematics) , cognition , social psychology , population , path analysis (statistics) , structural equation modeling , theory of planned behavior , social cognitive theory , control (management) , medicine , mathematical analysis , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , environmental health , epistemology , neuroscience , management , economics
Background Given the substantive health inequalities in peri‐urban communities and the potential for physical activity to promote health in these communities, identifying modifiable physical activity determinants in this population is important. This study explored effects of the peri‐urban environment and psychological constructs on physical activity intentions and behavioural automaticity guided by an integrated theoretical framework. Methods Peri‐urban Australians ( N = 271) completed self‐report measures of environmental (i.e. physical/social environment, and neighbourhood selection), motivational (i.e. autonomous motivation), and social cognition (i.e. attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioural control [ PBC ]) constructs, past behaviour, intentions, and automaticity. Results A well‐fitting path analytic model revealed that: autonomous motivation predicted all social cognition constructs; subjective norms and PBC , but not attitudes; autonomous motivation predicted intentions and automaticity; and subjective norms and PBC mediated effects of autonomous motivation on intentions. Of the environmental constructs, only neighbourhood selection was related to intentions, mediated by PBC . Conclusions Autonomous motivation is an important correlate of physical activity intentions and automaticity, and subjective norms and PBC also related to intentions. Individuals perceiving a supportive environment were more likely to report positive PBC and intentions. Targeting change in autonomous motivation, and normative and control beliefs may help enhance physical activity intentions and automaticity in peri‐urban communities.