Habit as mediator of the relationship between prior and later physical activity: A longitudinal study in older adults. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Bree, Rob J.H.; van Stralen, Maartje M.; Mudde, Aart N.; Bolman, Catherine; de Vries, Hein; Lechner, Lilian
• Is Part Of: Psychology of sport and exercise. Volume 19(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Theory of planned behavior -- Habits -- SRHI -- SRBAI -- Physical activity -- Mediation analysis; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Psychology; Sports; Exercise; Societies, Medical; Sports -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; Exercice -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; 613.71019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2015.03.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1469-0292

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Habit has been proposed as an explanation of why prior behavior is a good predictor of later behavior. This study examined whether habit mediates the relationship between prior and later physical activity (PA), within the framework of the attitude-social influences-efficacy (ASE) model and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Design: A longitudinal design was used. Methods: A total of 1976 older adults completed questionnaires on ASE/TPB constructs and PA at baseline, intention at three months, habit at six months, and PA at twelve months. Results: Path analyses showed that habit significantly mediates the relationship between prior and later PA, after ASE/TPB variables were taken into account. Conclusions: Habit is a partial solution to the question why prior PA is a good predictor of later PA. It is recommended to incorporate habit into the ASE/TPB model. Highlights: Prior physical activity (PA) is a good predictor of later PA. Habit is a proposed mediator of the relationship between prior and later PA. The SRHI was used as an operationalization of habit. Habit was found to be a mediator of the relationship between prior and later PA. The ASE/TPB model may benefit from incorporating habit.