The initiation and maintenance of exercise behavior: A learning theory conceptualization

Lees, Laura A.; Dygdon, Judith A.

doi:10.1016/0272-7358(88)90096-7

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Our evidence that exercise contributes to this sense is consistent with Salmon's (2001) theory of exercise training as stress adaptation. Drawing on Lees and Dygdon's (1988) argument that exercise can initially be unpleasant but can over time become pleasant due to counterconditioning, or the suppression of an unwanted response to a stimulus by the conditioning of a competing (e.g., endorphin) response, Salmon (2001) noted that the effects of counter-conditioning routinely extend beyond the originally aversive stimulus in nonhuman animal experiments so that counter-conditioning becomes a more general form of 'toughening up' (Gray, 1982). For example, after developing tolerance to exposure to cold water through counter-conditioning, animals also display tolerance to uncontrollable electric shock, and vice versa (Weiss et al, 1975).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Psychological Benefits of Vigorous Exercise: A Study of Discordant MZ Twin Pairs

Johnson¹,

Krueger²

2007

Twin Res Hum Genet

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The physiological benefits of vigorous exercise are well established. The existence of psychological benefits is less clear, however, due to methodological limitations common to investigatory studies. Two of these limitations are the difficulty of establishing appropriate control groups and the large variety of highly specific measures of psychological function available for consideration of effects. To address these limitations, we identified 63 pairs of monozygotic twins from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States who were discordant for the amount of vigorous exercise in which they engaged regularly. The twins who regularly engaged in vigorous exercise experienced greater positive psychological functioning than their nonexercising co-twins as measured by the latent factor representing the variance common to 8 measures of mood, optimism, control over life, and interpersonal aspects of personality. The magnitude of the difference was in excess of .4 standard deviations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Psychological Benefits of Vigorous Exercise: A Study of Discordant MZ Twin Pairs

Johnson¹,

Krueger²

2007

Twin Res Hum Genet

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“…For example, most explanatory paradigms of human behavior incorporate at least some aspects of reinforcement theory and operant conditioning principles (42). Regarding appearance incentives, it is possible that individuals receive a diminishing amount of personal complements as time passes (as the novelty of the improved "new look" wears off).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship of perceived health and appearance improvement, and self‐motivation, with adherence to exercise in previously sedentary women

Annesi

2004

European Journal of Sport Science

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Previously sedentary women in the southeast United States (M age = 35.9 years, SD = 10.1), whose primary reason for beginning an exercise program was either health improvement (N = 48) or appearance improvement (N = 42), were assessed to estimate relationships between perceived progress on these factors, self-motivation, and exercise program attendance. Non-significant bivariate correlations were found between attendance and changes in measures of perceived health (r = -.24) and appearance (r = -.02), over the 16-week study. Self-Motivation Inventory scores were supported as a significant correlate of exercise attendance (rs = .30 and .36), and when entered into linear multiple regression analyses, along with perceived health and appearance improvement, explained variances in attendance increased (R2 = .11 and R2 = .14, respectively). Findings supported trait theory as a valid but incomplete model, and failed to support propositions embedded within goal setting and self-efficacy theories. The dynamic relationship between personal, process, and outcome factors, related to exercise adherence, is discussed. The need for further research to contribute to more comprehensive exercise behavior models, capable of giving effective direction to treatment design, is suggested. Limitations and the need for replication and extension are also discussed.

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“…This strategy was employed based on the reasoning that increasing accountability for project activities would increase the likelihood that the participant would follow the project activities through faithfully. Lees and Dygdon's (1988) research found that self-monitoring/ management projects were more successful when a coach or friend was present to help and encourage the participant in identifying improvements and to keep the participant focused on long-term goals.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decreasing Excessive Media Usage While Increasing Physical Activity

Larwin

2008

Behav Modif

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The Kaiser Family Foundation released a report entitled Kids and Media Use in the United States that concluded that children's use of media--including television, computers, Internet, video games, and phones--may be one of the primary contributor's to the poor fitness and obesity of many of today's adolescents. The present study examines the potential of increasing physical activity and decreasing media usage in a 14-year-old adolescent female by making time spent on the Internet and/or cell phone contingent on physical activity. Results of this investigation indicate that requiring the participant to earn her media-usage time did correspond with an increase in physical activity and a decrease in media-usage time relative to baseline measures. Five weeks after cessation of the intervention, the participant's new level of physical activity was still being maintained. One year after the study, the participant's level of physical activity continued to increase.

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The initiation and maintenance of exercise behavior: A learning theory conceptualization

Cited by 15 publications

References 7 publications

The Psychological Benefits of Vigorous Exercise: A Study of Discordant MZ Twin Pairs

The Psychological Benefits of Vigorous Exercise: A Study of Discordant MZ Twin Pairs

Relationship of perceived health and appearance improvement, and self‐motivation, with adherence to exercise in previously sedentary women

Decreasing Excessive Media Usage While Increasing Physical Activity

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