The Effect Of Reflective And Affect Association Intervention On Physical Activity:the Construction And Testing Of Reflective-impulsive Model

Exercise psychology has made considerable progress towards understanding the determinants of physical activity. The application of theories from social psychology and related disciplines stimulate this field. One common element of these models is the assumption that behavior is the result of cognitive appraisal processes of (a) the expectancy and value of potential health threats, and (b) possible coping responses. From these appraisal processes, a behavioral decision to reduce the health threat may be formed. Importantly, these decisions and the resulting goal-directed behavior are typically seen as reasoned, conscious, and intentional acts that require a person’s volitional control or willpower in order to be effective. The behavior is not only decided by the reflective system which is based on the rational decision, but also influenced by the impulsive system which is based on the irrational decision.Based on the basic framwork of reflective-impulsive modle (RIM) which is a two-system model of social behavior, a reflective-impulsive modle of physical activity (RIM_PA) was proposed. Three studies were conducted to (1) test the model,(2) examine the moderate variable which shift the weight between reflective and impulsive fluences, and (3) compare the effects of association intervention and reflective intervention.In study1, RIM_PA was proposed and tested. The RIM_PA combines (1) reflective precursors, which integrate elements from other physical activity modle, such as attitude behavior, subjective norm, perceived behavior control, social support, positive outcome expectations, and exercise self-efficacy (as measured via self-report),(2) impulsive precursor (as measured via SC-IAT), which is reflected by the affect association on physical activity, and (3) the willpower, which is as the moderate variable that shift the weight between reflective and impulsive influences. The physical activity, the reflective precursors, the willpower and the impulsive precursor of1519college students were assessed. The model was examined using the method of structural equation modeling. The overall goodness-of-fit indices of the models were satisfactory. The results supported that both the reflective precursors and the impulsive precursor can predict physical activity.In study2, the multi-group structural equation modeling was used to test the moderating effect of willpower on shifting the weight between reflective and impulsive fluences. For the higher willpower participants, the reflective precursors had a stronger influence on physical activity than impulsive precursor, while the result for the lower willpower participants was converse.In study3,160lower affect association and physical activity participants were selected to be divided into four groups. There were40participants received association intervention in Group1.40higher willpower participants received reflective intervention in group2.40lower willpower participants received reflective intervention in group3.40participants in group4were as control group. The results showed that, both reflective and assocition intervention can promote the participants’physical activity, but there are differences between them.It comes to the conclusions that:(1) RIM_PA can be used to interpret and predict physical activity.(2) Willpower is the moderate variable which shift the weight between reflective and impulsive fluences.(3) Both reflective and assocition intervention can promote the participants’physical activity, but there are differences between them.