The relationships between passions, intentions, habit and exercise frequency

ABSTRACT

There were three purposes to this research. First, we sought to test the differential role of harmonious and obsessive passion in predicting intention and habit for exercise. The second goal of this research was to test the associations between intention, habit and exercise frequency. Last, the third goal was to assess the mediation role of intention and habit in the relationship between both forms of passion and exercise frequency. The sample consisted of 284 participants (140 males, 144 females) aged 18–60 years old (M age = 29.81, SD = 9.16). Regression paths of the structural model indicated significant associations: a) harmonious passion was significantly associated with intentions and habit; b) obsessive passion was significantly associated with habit; c) intentions and habit were significantly associated with exercise frequency. The mediation model variance explained was 17% (p < .001). The total effect via harmonious and obsessive passion was β = .57 (IC95% = .42, .73) and the total indirect effect was β = .11 (IC95% = .02, .24). Having harmonious passion for a fitness activity appears to have the potential to increase regular physical activity among exercisers. Individuals who recognize the significance of physical exercise and participate in activities they enjoy the most can affirm the positive effects on their health from being active.

KEYWORDS:

• harmonious
• obsessive
• intention
• habit
• motivation

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all participants for volunteering for this study and continuing to participate in the exercise intervention.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy and ethical restrictions.

Approval

Approval from the Ethical Committee of IP Leiria (CE/IPLEIRIA/35/2021) was obtained.

Additional information

Funding

Filipe Rodrigues was supported by the national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., under the project UIDB/04748/2020.