Determinants of physical activity habit formation: a theory-based qualitative study among young adults

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Engagement in physical activity significantly contributes to reducing the onset and severity of chronic diseases. Nonetheless, establishing habits around this behaviour remains a persistent challenge. This research endeavours to discern the determinants influencing the formation of physical activity habit among young adults in Israel, drawing upon a socio-ecological model.

Methods

A qualitative approach with phenomenological-hermeneutical method was used. In-depth interviews were carried to cover four levels of the socio-ecological model.

Results

Interviewees were categorized into three subgroups according to their physical activity habit strength: Habitually physically active (n = 8), Variably physically active (n = 11), and physically inactive (n = 6). The content analysis yielded four overarching themes associated with physical activity habit formation. Intrapersonal determinants encompassed personal traits, perceptions and attitudes, perceived benefits, and emotional responses related to physical activity. Interpersonal determinants encompassed social support, modelling support, and peer pressure. Community determinants pertained to social norms, resource availability, and accessibility. Finally, public policy considerations encompassed educational policies as well as workplace policies and cultural influences.

Conclusions

This study highlights the unique determinants contributing to the formation of physical activity habit. As intrapersonal and interpersonal factors are significant determinants, interventions should focus on these elements in order to promote this behaviour among young adults.

KEYWORDS:

• Habit formation
• Israel
• physical activity
• socio-ecological model
• qualitative research
• young adults

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Rinat Avraham

Rinat Avraham is a Post-doctoral fellow at the Drexel Food Lab, Drexel University, Philadelphia & at the Negev Food Lab at the School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. She is a teacher at the Department of Nursing, the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Dr. Avraham research focuses on promoting healthy lifestyle by focusing on intrapersonal determinants of behavioural change. In the Negev Food Lab, she works on the design, development, and evaluation of projects that aim to encourage healthy food choices and eating experiences.

Tzahit Simon-Tuval

Tzahit Simon-Tuval is an Associate Professor of Health Economics at the Department of Health Policy and Management, the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management and the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. Prof. Simon-Tuval research focuses on health services research, adherence of chronic patients to self-care behaviours, medical decision-making, and outcomes research. I am primarily engaged in research collaboration with HMOs in Israel aiming at analysing health services utilization patterns, and leading research projects that examine predictors of patients’ adherence to prescribed therapy and self-care behaviours.

Dina Van Dijk

Dina Van Dijk is an associate professor of Organizational Behavior (OB) at the Department of Health Policy and Management, at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. She obtained her Ph.D. from the Hebrew University. Prof. Van Dijk’s research primarily focuses on work motivation and leadership dynamics. She particularly explores the interplay between leaders’ and followers’ self-regulatory focus and its impact on diverse organizational facets, such as health behaviours, well-being, performance, and turnover. Prof. Van Dijk serves on the editorial board of the Leadership Quarterly and is an Associate Editor at Frontiers in Organizational Psychology.