Associations among physical activity tracking, physical activity motivation and level of physical activity in young adults. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Loughlin, Erin K; Sabiston, Catherine M; deJonge, Melissa L; Lucibello, Kristen M; O'Loughlin, Jennifer L
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 27:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1833
• Page End: 1845
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: activity tracking -- behavior regulation -- PA -- self-determination -- young adults; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/13591053211008209
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Whether physical activity (PA) tracking devices are associated with PA motivation in young adults is largely unknown. We compared total PA minutes per week, total minutes walking/week, meeting moderate-to vigorous PA guidelines, and past-year activity tracking across motivation cluster profiles among 799 young adults. Participants with "self-determined" profiles reported the highest total PA minutes/week followed by participants with "low intrinsic, " "controlled self-determined, " and "high external" profiles. A behavior regulation profile X activity tracking frequency interaction was not significant. Behavior regulation profiles may need to be considered in PA interventions using activity trackers.