Trait self-control, exercise and exercise ambition: Evidence from a healthy, adult population

ABSTRACT

This study explores if self-control predicts exercise ambition and actual exercise, and if exercise ambition predicts actual exercise. Members and guests at a not-for-profit sports club were invited to participate. 264 individuals completed a self-reported (Self-Control Scale) measure of self-control, and responded to questions about actual exercise as well as exercise ambition prior to their workout. Main Outcome Measures are exercise ambition, actual exercise, and the difference between them. We find that trait self-control predicts both actual exercise and exercise ambition. Exercise ambition also predicts actual exercise. The results suggest a path from self-control, via exercise ambition, to actual exercise. Individuals with relatively low self-control might benefit from some aid in setting goals for their workouts and committing to exercise.

KEYWORDS:

• exercise
• exercise ambition
• exercise behaviour
• physical activity
• self-control

Acknowledgments

Funding from the Swedish Research Council, the Government Grant for Clinical Research (“ALF”), and Region Skåne is gratefully acknowledged. The authors would like to thank Friskis & Svettis Uppsala for allowing us to distribute our questionnaire on their premises, to their members and guests.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The meta-analysis is based on 102 studies that relate individual measures of self-control with different behaviours (but not with exercise behaviour as we do).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Region Skåne [na];Swedish Government grant for Clinical Research (ALF) [dnr F:2014/354];Vetenskapsrådet [dnr 2014-646].