Self-regulation and healthy lifestyles: considering the future may increase current physical activity levels

ABSTRACT

The present study examined whether people’s consideration of consequences (future vs. immediate consequences; CFC) can predict physical activity behaviour (PAB) and, to explore key mechanisms that may underline such association. To that end, participants (N = 128) filled in standardised measures of CFC and PAB, and questionnaires of health regulatory focus, attitude and intention as mediators of the CFC–PAB association. Regression analysis revealed that CFC-immediate was negatively associated with PAB, and that health regulatory promotion focus and intention were both positively associated with PAB. Mediation analysis revealed a significant effect of CFC-future via health promotion focus, attitude, and intention on PAB. Findings are discussed considering both susceptibility and buffering hypotheses. CFC-future buffers against self-control failure because it is associated with a promotion focus and with both more positive attitudes and stronger intentions towards PAB. Interventions promoting a physically active lifestyle should foster people to value and become aware of the future consequences of their actual PAB.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise
• future-orientation
• health behaviour
• immediate-orientation
• prevention focus
• promotion focus

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.