"I'll work out tomorrow": The Procrastination in Exercise Scale. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kelly, Scout M; Walton, Hayley R
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 26:Number 13(2021)
• Page Start: 2613
• Page End: 2625
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: exercise -- physical activity -- procrastination -- scale -- self-regulation; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105320916541
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Exercise procrastination (i.e. the voluntary delay of intended exercise) represents a novel, reasoned route to self-regulatory failure in physical activity. This study sought to develop and evaluate a scale to measure exercise procrastination and assess its relationship with self-reported physical activity. Two surveys were administered to community samples ( n = 270, 279). In both samples, the Procrastination in Exercise Scale was positively correlated with general procrastination and predicted lower physical activity after controlling for intentions and general procrastination. Exercise procrastination appears to be a common phenomenon, and better understanding its role in physical activity may lead to novel intervention approaches.