Goal conflict and goal facilitation as predictors of daily accelerometer-assessed physical activity.

Abstract

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link AbstractObjective: To test whether perceptions of conflicting and facilitating personal goals, and actual daily time spent in their pursuit, predict accelerometer-assessed physical activity (PA). Methods: A prospective multi-level design with a daily accelerometer-based assessment of PA over one week was used (N=106). Participants' personal goals were elicited using personal projects analysis. Participants then rated their personal goals in terms of how they were perceived to facilitate and conflict with their regular PA. Items assessing PA-specific intention and perceived behavioral control (PBC) were also embedded within the baseline measures. For the subsequent seven consecutive days, participants completed a daily diary based on the day reconstruction method, indicating the time spent in daily episodes involving each of their personal goals, and wore an RT3 tri-axial accelerometer. The main outcome was accelerometer-assessed daily time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Results: Random intercept multilevel models indicated that perceived goal facilitation, but not perceived goal conflict, predicted MVPA over and above intention and PBC. Daily time pursuing conflicting goals negatively predicted MVPA when subsequently added to the model and in so doing, attenuated the association between perceived goal facilitation and MVPA. Conclusion: Perceived goal facilitation predicts objectively measured PA over and above intention and PBC, but daily time spent in pursuit of conflicting personal goals provides a better account of how alternative goals relate to engaging in regular PA.

Impact of goal priority and goal conflict on the intention–health-behavior relationship: Tests on physical activity and other health behaviors.

“…Fourth, we directly compared goal priority and goal conflict, with data across all four studies pointing to the stronger moderating effects of the former. Fifth, in addition to showing these effects for the previously studied behavior of physical activity (Studies 1-3; Li & Chan, 2008;Presseau et al, 2010Presseau et al, , 2011Presseau et al, , 2013 we showed the effects are similar for a broader range of health protective and risk behaviors (Study 4). Sixth, in contrast to Li and Chan (2008), we…”

“…Third, we show these effects hold when controlling for the effects of past behavior (Studies 2-4; see also Li & Chan, 2008) and when using an objective measure of behavior (see also Presseau et al, 2013) and past behavior (Study 3). Relatedly we also support previous research in showing goal effects in both between-subjects (Presseau et al, 2010) and within-subjects (Presseau et al, 2013) GOAL MEASURES AND THE INTENTION-BEHAVIOR LINK 23 designs. Fourth, we directly compared goal priority and goal conflict, with data across all four studies pointing to the stronger moderating effects of the former.…”

“…More pertinently, Presseau, Francis, Campbell, and Sniehotta (2011) reported that, after controlling for goal intentions and other variables, both goal conflict and goal facilitation predicted health professionals provision of physical activity advice in primary care. Similarly, in relation to physical activity, studies have shown that after controlling for intentions, then goal facilitation, but not goal conflict, predicted behavior (Li & Chan, 2008;Riediger & Freund, 2004), including between-subjects studies using self-reported behavior (Presseau, Sniehotta, Francis, & Gebhardt, 2010) and within-subjects studies using objective measures of behavior (Presseau, Tait, Johnston, Francis, & Sniehotta, 2013). Importantly, only Li and Chan (2008) and Presseau et al (2010) tested whether these goal measures moderated the relationship between intentions and behavior, although neither reported a significant effect.…”

“…In the present research, Studies 2-4 each control for past behavior. Relatedly, only Presseau et al (2013) have examined goal construct effects for an objective measure of behavior using a within-subjects design. In the present research we test goal construct effects using an objective measure of behavior, using a within-subjects design, but manipulate goal constructs and control for objectively measured past behavior (Study 3).…”

Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives – a new method of measuring motives for physical activity and sport

“…Many researchers refer to the Personal Projects Analysis (PPA) theory (Little & Gee, 2007), in which objectives are assessed based on five factors: project meaning (satisfaction, self-identification, value congruency), structure (control, time, initiation, positive/ negative influence), community (visibility to others, importance assessment by others), efficacy (chances for accomplishment, progress, skills), and stress (challenge, stress, level of difficulty). The tool has been used to test whether perceptions of conflicting and facilitating personal goals, and actual daily time spent in their pursuit, predict accelerometer-assessed physical activity (Presseau, Tait, Johnston, Francis, & Sniehotta, 2013). The importance of time for goaloriented behaviour was stressed by Feather and Bond (1994), who developed the Time Structure Questionnaire, which concerns such aspects of time use as organization, purpose, routine, planning, inertia, and daydreaming.…”