EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY

THEORETICAL MODELS OF EXERCISE

BEHAVIORS
CHAPTER 5
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Learners should be able:
 
To differentiate between Health Belief Model and Exercise
Behavior Model.
Discuss Theory of Reasoned Action in exercise behavior.
Explain internal and external factors of Theory of Planned
Behavior.
Define self-efficacy and differentiate between client with high
self-efficacy and low self-efficacy.
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 PSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION

Function of theory:

 Provide an unified set of construct and relationship.

 Theory leads to the expansion of knowledge.

 Predict certain behaviors and provide guidance in planning.

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Summary of the major element of the model:
 
It is assumed that involvement in physical activity increases physical ability, which raises
one’s physical self-estimation and leads to higher levels of overall self-esteem.
 
People with self-esteem take pride in their bodies, they continue to exercise, thereby
maintaining or increasing fitness - even greater attraction to physical activity
 
Physical estimation and attraction exert mediating influences in relationships between
physical fitness, physical activity, and self-esteem.
 
Self-esteem may influence physical estimation, and physical estimation may influence
self-esteem.

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 HEALTH BELIEF MODEL (HBM)

 The HBM is a health behavior change and psychological model developed by Rosenstock in
1966 for studying and promoting the uptake of health services.

 Subsequent amendments to the model in 1988 - evidence generated within the health
community about the role that knowledge and perceptions play in personal responsibility.

 To predict behavioral response to the treatment received by acutely or chronically ill patients,
but in more recent years the model has been used to predict more general health behavior.

 HBM has been adapted to explain & predict a variety of long- and short-term health
behaviors: Preventive behavior; Illness behavior; Sick role behavior.

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Health Belief Model Components:

Perceived Susceptibility. The individual's assessment of their risk of getting the condition and how likely
do you think you are to have this health issue?
 
Perceived Severity. The individual's assessment of the seriousness of the condition, and its potential
consequences and how serious do you believe this health issue is?
 
Perceived Benefits. The individual's assessment of the positive consequences of adopting the behavior.
And how well does the recommended behavior reduce the risk(s) associated with this health issue?
 
Perceived Barriers. The individual's assessment of the influences that facilitate or discourage adoption of
the promoted behavior. And what are the potential negative aspects of doing this recommended
behavior? (Perceived cost)

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 THE EXERCISE BEHAVIOR MODEL (EBM)

 The EBM is a comprehensive theoretical model intended to identify and integrate

factors that are likely to affect one’s decision to participate in regular exercise.

Four predisposition that influence readiness for exercise:

1. Perceived locus of control for exercise.

2. Attitude toward physical activity.

3. Self- concept.

4. Exercise relate values; health, appearance, and physical activity

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 Cont’d
 The model assumes that people are:
1. ready to exercise if they have an internal locus of control for
exercise,
2. a positive attitude toward physical activity,
3. a positive self-concept, and
4. positive values for health, physical appearance, and physical
fitness.

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 According to the model, the likelihood of taking action would
depend on the individual’s assessment of the benefits of
exercise versus perceived barriers to involvement.

 If barriers are perceived as greater than the benefits - it is

assumed that the person will not participate regardless of
favorable predisposition or modifying factors that support
exercise.

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 THEORY OF REASONED ACTION

 The theory assumes that people usually rational and make systematic
use of information available to them - before deciding to engage them.

 The theory’s basic assumption is that most social behaviors are

voluntarily controlled and that intention is the immediate determinant
of behavior.

 People expected to behave in accordance with their intentions.

Because intentions tend to change with time and circumstances.

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 Cont’d
Behavioural intentions are the product of two basic determinants: attitude towards the behaviour and
social norms.

 Attitude towards behaviour is based on a person’s positive or negative evaluation of performing the
behaviour.

 Social norms are to do with how a person perceives social pressures to perform or not to perform a specific
behaviour.

 People tend to engage in a given behaviour when they evaluate it positively and believe that others think
they should perform it (Ajzen, 1985).

 To fully understand behavioral intention one must understand why people hold certain attitudes and
perceive certain subjective norm.

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 Cont’d
 “behavioral beliefs” refers to the beliefs associated with one’s attitude toward a specific behavior - “normative
belief” refers to subjective norms which are based on person’s belief about how important they think they
should behave.

 Subjective norm may exert pressure to behave in certain way despite one’s attitude toward a particular
behavior.

 Attitudes and subjective norm significantly influence one’s intention to exercise.

 The theory of reasoned action does not directly incorporate demographic elements, personality
characteristics, social roles, intelligence, and other traditional variables.

 External variables are recognized as potentially important to influence a person’s belief, attitudes and
perceptions of norms.

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Application of the model to exercise

 In a study that compared joggers and non-exerciser,

 Riddle (1980) found substantial support for the theory. A correlation of .82 was observed between
behavioral intention and actual jogging behavior. Joggers had much stronger belief about the
consequences and evaluation than non-exercisers. To seduce non exercisers to become involved,
they might be convinced by positive consequences of regular exercise.

 Another study of students in grades 7 to 9 produced results that contradicted the proposition that
intention is the immediate determinant of behavior (Godin & Shephard, 1986).
 Personal attributes, particularly attitudes and exercise habits, as well as the interaction between
prior experience and current exercise habits contributed significantly to the prediction of exercise
intentions.

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 Cont’d
 A study of university employees also found that attitude and current exercise habits
influence intention to exercise (Godin et al., 1987). The results showed that the inclusion
of habit improved the prediction of intention to exercise.

 Based on theoretical model, attitude was again important in determining intention of

exercise but subjective norms did not influence intention.

 Lastly, the predictive power of the theory can be enhanced with addition of certain
external variables.

 Future research will identify additional variables, reconfigure the model or use some
combination of these strategies to produce more accurate prediction of exercise behavior.

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 THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR
 The concept of as a factor in predicting behavior. Control is concerned
with the extent to which non volitional internal and external factors
interfere with one’s attempt to perform a behavior.

 This theory assumes that the strength of an attempt to perform a

behavior interact with one’s degree of control to determine the likelihood
of the behavior occurring.

 The harder one tries and the greater one’s control over interfering
internal and external factors, the greater the likelihood of obtaining the
behavioural goal.
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 Cont’d
 Internal factors such as the deficiency in skills, deficiency in ability, deficiency in knowledge, and adequate
planning can interfere with control.

 External factors include time, priority, and cooperation of the other people.

 This theory predicts that the more resources and opportunities individuals believe they have, and the fewer
obstacle they anticipate, the greater their perceive control over the behavior.

 The more favorable the attitude and subjective norm toward exercise, and the greater the person’s perceived
control over factors affecting exercise participation - the stronger his/her intention to exercise would be.

 In other words the more control one has over attaining a goal, the stronger one’s intention to try to achieve it.

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 SELF- EFFICACY

 An important theoretical framework that emphasizes cognitive processes in the acquisition and retention of new
behaviour patterns is the social cognitive theory by Bandura (1977a, 1982, and 1986).

 Social cognitive theory presents a model of causation in which environmental events, personal factors, and
behaviour operate as interacting determinants and it is called reciprocal causation.

 According to social cognitive theory, self-efficacy involves more than the possession of knowledge and skills. It also
includes the perception that one is capable of performing effectively.

 Self –efficacy is judgement of one’s capability to organize and execute course of action required to attain
designated types of performances. And the degree of self-confidence experienced by a performer when place in
specific situation.

 People are believed to act in concert with other mechanism in the regulation of behavior. People not only gain
understanding through reflection, they evaluate and alter their own thinking.

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The differences between people with weak and strong self-efficacy.

People with weak sense of self-efficacy

1. Avoid challenging tasks.

2. Believe that difficult tasks and situations are beyond their capabilities.
3. Focus on personal failings and negative outcomes.
4. Quickly lose confidence in personal abilities

People with strong sense of self-efficacy

5. View challenging problems as task to be mastered.

6. Develop deeper interest in the activities in which they participate.
7. Form a stronger sense of commitment to their interests and activities.
8. Recover quickly from setbacks and disappointments.

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Major sources of self-efficacy

 Performance accomplishment: successes tend to raise expectations and failures tend to

lower them. “The most effective way of developing a strong sense of efficacy is through
mastery experience,” (Bandura, 1994). Performing a task successfully strengthens our sense
of self-efficacy. However, failing to adequate deal with a task or challenge can undermine and
weaken self-efficacy.

 Vicarious experience: involves judging one’s probable success at a task based on

observations of the behaviors of others. Witness other people successfully completing task is
another important source of self-efficacy. “Seeing people similar to oneself succeed by
sustained effort raises observers’ belief that they too possess the capabilities master
comparable activities to succeed” (Bandura, 1994).

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 Verbal persuasion: concerned with attempts to influence efficacy beliefs by suggestion.
Bandura also asserted that people could be persuading to belief that they have skills and
capabilities to succeed. Consider a time when someone said something positive and
encouraging that helped you achieve a goal. Getting verbal encouragement from others helps
people overcome self-doubt and instead focus on giving their best effort to the task at hand.

 Physiological states: resulting from emotional arousal may also influence perceived efficacy.
Our own responses and emotional reactions also play an important role in self-efficacy. Moods,
emotional states, physical reactions, and stress levels can all impact how a person feels about
their personal abilities in a particular situation. A person who becomes extremely nervous
before speaking in the public may develop a weak sense of efficacy in this situation. By
learning how to minimize stress and elevate mood when facing difficult or challenging task,
people can improve their sense of self-efficacy.

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 Cont’d
Self-efficacy in exercise and fitness program

1. Self-efficacy plays an important role in initiating and maintaining health behavior such as smoking
cessation, pain management, control of eating disorders, and cardiac rehabilitation.

2. High efficacy subjects persisted longer in the task than low efficacy subjects. Also high efficacy
subjects perform better after an initial failure, while low efficacy subjects did poorer after
experiencing failure in the first trail.

3. Maximum psychological and motivational impact, exercise programs should be designed to

increase self-efficacy by exposing patient to a variety of activities with gradually increasing
performance goals.

4. Self-efficacy for successfully starting an exercise program was the strongest predictor of exercise
intention.
 
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 REVIEW QUESTIONS
What is Health Belief Model (HBM).
Define Exercise Behavior Model (EBM).
Discuss Theory of Reasoned Action.
Explain internal and external factors of Theory of
Planned Behavior.
Define four (4) major sources of self-efficacy.
Differentiate between people with high self- efficacy
and low self-efficacy level.
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