Bernecker, Katharina; Kramer, Jule (2020). Implicit theories about willpower are associated with exercise levels during the academic examination period. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 9 (2), pp. 216-231. 10.1037/spy0000182

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Despite the negative consequences of physical inactivity on physical and mental health, many people are insufficiently active. We approached this problem from a self-control perspective, arguing that exercising competes with other long-term goals people pursue in their everyday lives. In a preregistered, cross-sectional study with N = 516 students (n = 278 after exclusion based on preregistered criteria), we tested whether students’ implicit theories about willpower—as being a limited or a nonlimited resource—are associated with exercise levels during their final examination period. Results suggest that during this highly demanding phase of the semester, students who believe their capacity to exert self-control is limited exercise less than students who believe that their self-control is not limited. Further, correlational patterns suggest that exercise-related self-efficacy plays a mediating role, whereas results did not confirm a moderating or mediating role of barrier management as preventive self-control strategies. In sum, our findings suggest that implicit theories about willpower are relevant for exercise as an important domain of self-control in everyday life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
PHBern Contributor:	Bernecker, K.
Language:	English
Submitter:	Sibylle Blanchard
Date Deposited:	10 Jun 2024 13:31
Last Modified:	10 Jun 2024 13:31
Publisher DOI:	10.1037/spy0000182
URI:	https://phrepo.phbern.ch/id/eprint/7443