Access Type

Open Access Thesis

Date of Award

January 2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Tim Bogg

Abstract

The current study tested the utility of a personality-informed approach combined with implementation intention formation to increase exercise initiation and maintenance. Participants (N = 221) were randomized to one of three research conditions and participated in a baseline psycho-educational group session. Participants returned individually for 3-week and 2-month follow ups. There were no statistically significant differences found among participants with regard to step rate at the end of the 3-week tracking period. However, effect size calculations at the 2-month follow up indicated that participants in the industriousness group showed the most increase in their exercise and industriousness levels while participants in the implementation intention group showed the most increase in levels of self-efficacy. These findings provide initial evidence that industriousness levels could be effectively increased when linked with exercise behavior monitoring and that increases in exercise levels are most pronounced when information and planning methods are combined with realistic appraisals of one’s efforts for exercise. The current research suggests that personality-informed frameworks represent a promising intervention modality that may provide useful insight into processes of behavioral maintenance.

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