Mediators of Physical Activity Adherence: Results from an Action Control Intervention in Couples
Open accessAbstract
Background: Behavior change interventions targeting self-regulation skills have generally shown promising effects. However, the psychological working mechanisms remain poorly understood. Purpose: We examined theory-based mediators of a randomized controlled trial in couples targeting action control (i.e., continuously monitoring and evaluating an ongoing behavior). Self-reported action control was tested as the main mediating mechanism of physical activity adherence, and in addition self-efficacy and received social support from the partner. Methods: Overweight individuals (N = 121) and their heterosexual partners were randomly allocated to an intervention (information + action control text messages) or a control group (information only). Across a period of 28 days, participants reported on action control, self-efficacy, and received support in end-of-day diaries, and wore triaxial accelerometers to assess stable between-person differences in mediators and the outcome adherence to recommended daily activity levels (≥30 min of moderate activity in bouts of at least 10 min). Results: On average, participants in the intervention group showed higher physical activity adherence levels and higher action control, self-efficacy, and received support compared to participants in the control group. Action control and received support emerged as mediating mechanisms, explaining 19.7 and 24.6% of the total intervention effect, respectively, in separate analyses, and 13.9 and 22.2% when analyzed simultaneously. No evidence emerged for self-efficacy as mediator. Conclusions: Action control and received support partly explain the effects of an action control intervention on physical activity adherence levels. Continued research is needed to better understand what drives intervention effects to guide innovative and effective health promotion. Trial Registration Number: (controlled-trials.com ISRCTN15705531).
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Greater engagement in PA increases the likelihood of sustained PA maintenance over time.
“Greater engagement in PA has been shown to increase exercise self-efficacy (73), associated with improved body image and physical quality of life, and increases the likelihood of sustained PA maintenance over time (94).”
From The Role of Exercise in Management of Mental Health Disorders: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [94]
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The Role of Exercise in Management of Mental Health Disorders: An Integrative Review
Smith, P. J., & Merwin, R. M. (2021) · Annual Review of Medicine · doi:10.1146/annurev-med-060619-022943 · Cited by 360 · see citing works
- Authors
- Berli, C., Stadler, G., Shrout, P. E., Bolger, N., & Scholz, U.
- Affiliations
- Columbia University (US)
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- New York University (US)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Berli, Corina
- Venue
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2017-12-13
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 65-76
- ISSN
- 0742-5554 (ISSN-L)
- 0883-6612
- 1532-4796
- OpenAlex
- W2736194317
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Aberdeen University Research Archive (Aberdeen University) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Funders
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (PP00P1_133632/1, P2BEP1_158975)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- physical activity adherence, action control, couples, self-regulation, self-efficacy, social support, text messaging intervention, overweight, mediation analysis, behaviour change interventions, accelerometry, health promotion
- MeSH terms
- Self-Control, Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Compliance, Social Support, Exercise, Treatment Outcome, Spouses, Overweight, Young Adult, Text Messaging, Weight Reduction Programs
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