Struggling with exercise decisions, the influence of acute thoughts and coping self-efficacy

Abstract

Using self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997) as a foundation, the primary objectives of the series of studies in this dissertation were to investigate (a) the influence of acute negative and positive thoughts as they impact on decisions to exercise, (b) the processes involved in coping with acute, negative thoughts, and (c) the impact of coping-related social cognitions on decision making, intention, and behavior. Acute thoughts were conceptualized as daily thoughts that exercisers experience as a function of deciding whether to exercise as planned. In Study One, exercisers reported a multitude of acute, negative and positive thoughts. The frequency and overall tone of these acute thoughts predicted a behavioral form of self-efficacy (i.e., attend planned exercise). This form of self-efficacy predicted exercise intention and behavior. These findings are supportive of contentions in self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997) of an indirect relationship between thoughts and intention and between thoughts and behavior. Study One also revealed that negative thinkers had significantly lower self-efficacy and exercise attendance compared to positive thinkers. Interestingly, negative thinkers still managed to attend exercise at a fairly high rate (i.e., 73%). This raised the possibility that they had developed effective strategies to cope with their negative thoughts.

The purpose of Study Two was to examine this coping process. This study revealed that exercisers employed a variety of behavioral and cognitive problem-focused coping strategies. This finding is in accord with coping theory (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). This study also revealed that exercisers' beliefs in the effectiveness of these strategies (i.e., coping response efficacy) predicted exercise intention. This finding is supportive of contentions in self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997).

Study Three attempted to further this understanding of the coping process. It was found that coping self-efficacy, or beliefs in abilities to execute coping strategies, was predictive of social cognitive aspects of the decision-making process. Evidence of the distinctiveness of coping self-efficacy from a behavioral form of efficacy (i.e., scheduling self-efficacy) was also obtained. In Study Three, an attempt to manipulate positive and negative thinkers' coping self-efficacy via persuasive messages (i.e., high and moderate efficacy messages) did not produce the hypothesized effects. Study attrition may have contributed to this failure. Furthermore, negative thinkers who adhered to the study and who were exposed to the high efficacy message had high premanipulation levels of coping self-efficacy. Thus, they had little room for efficacy enhancement. However, negative thinkers who adhered to the study and who were exposed to the moderate message showed an effect in the expected direction. This group had a moderate level of premanipulation coping self-efficacy. Other effects of study attrition and message manipulation are also reported.

Taken together, the findings of these three studies support contentions from self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997) and suggest that the influence of acute, exercise-related thoughts on exercise behavior is a topic worthy of continued research. This research should also examine the process involved in coping with acute, negative thoughts an d the influence of coping-related social cognitions (i.e. coping self-efficacy and coping response efficacy) on decision-making variables, exercise intention, and exercise behavior. Finally, examination of methods to manipulate coping self-efficacy is also encouraged.