Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Substituting activities mediates the effect of cognitive flexibility on physical activity: a daily diary study

  • BRIEF REPORT
  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pursuit of physical activity goals often requires modifying plans, but research on these flexible processes is limited. Cognitive flexibility may heighten one’s likelihood of using flexible self-regulatory strategies (e.g., substitution), thereby increasing physical activity. This study used daily diary methodology to test the indirect effect of cognitive flexibility on physical activity via activity substitution. A sample of 128 college students (73% female, mean age 19.9) completed baseline measures and cognitive flexibility assessments, then logged physical activity daily for 2 weeks. Activity substitution was defined as adopting an alternate activity on a day another planned activity was unfulfilled. Controlling for baseline activity, intentions, and time, a multilevel mediation model revealed a significant indirect effect of cognitive flexibility on physical activity via activity substitution (b = 81.36, p = .041). Our results indicate that people with greater cognitive flexibility are more likely to use flexible self-regulation, leading to greater physical activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. To assess the sensitivity of the model, we analyzed the data excluding covariates that did not fundamentally change the nature of the analysis. Controlling for baseline activity and time, but not intention, the indirect effect of task-switching on physical activity via substitution of activities remained significant, b = 79.30, p = .048, 95% CI: .77 to 157.83.

References

  • Ainsworth, B. E., Haskell, W. L., Herrmann, S. D., Meckes, N., Bassett, D. R., Tudor-Locke, C., et al. (2011). 2011 compendium of physical activities: A second update of codes and MET values. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43, 1575–1581. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e31821ece12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allan, J. L., Johnston, M., & Campbell, N. (2011). Missed by an inch or a mile? Predicting the size of intention-behaviour gap from measures of executive control. Psychology & Health, 26, 635–650. doi:10.1080/08870441003681307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allom, V., Mullan, B., & Sebastian, J. (2013). Closing the intention-behaviour gap for sunscreen use and sun protection behaviours. Psychology & Health, 28, 477–494. doi:10.1080/08870446.2012.745935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayuk, J. B., Janiszewski, C., & Leboeuf, R. A. (2010). Letting good opportunities pass us by: Examining the role of mind-set during goal pursuit. Journal of Consumer Research, 37, 570–583. doi:10.1086/654892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carraro, N., & Gaudreau, P. (2013). Spontaneous and experimentally induced action planning and coping planning for physical activity: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14, 228–248. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.10.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Craig, C. L., Marshall, A. L., Sjöström, M., Bauman, A. E., Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., et al. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-Country reliability and validity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35, 1381–1395. doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fishbach, A., Zhang, Y., & Koo, M. (2009). The dynamics of self-regulation. European Review of Social Psychology, 20, 315–344. doi:10.1080/10463280903275375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming, K. A., Heintzelman, S. J., & Bartholow, B. D. (2015). Specifying associations between conscientiousness and executive functioning: Mental set shifting, not prepotent response inhibition or working memory updating. Journal of Personality, 83, 1–46. doi:10.1111/jopy.12163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, N. P., Miyake, A., Young, S. E., Defries, J. C., Corley, R. P., & Hewitt, J. K. (2008). Individual differences in executive functions are almost entirely genetic in origin. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 137, 201–225. doi:10.1037/0096-3445.137.2.201

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta-analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69–119. doi:10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38002-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, P. A., Elias, L. J., Fong, G. T., Harrison, A. H., Borowsky, R., & Sarty, G. E. (2008). A social neuroscience perspective on physical activity. Journal of Sport & Exercise psychology, 30, 432–449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, P. A., & Fong, G. T. (2015). Temporal self-regulation theory: A neurobiologically informed model for physical activity behavior. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9, 117. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00117

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, P. A., Lowe, C., & Vincent, C. (2014). Executive control resources and snack food consumption in the presence of restraining versus facilitating cues. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 37, 587–594. doi:10.1007/s10865-013-9528-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, A. F. (2009). Beyond Baron and Kenny: Statistical mediation analysis in the new millennium. Communication Monographs, 76, 408–420. doi:10.1080/03637750903310360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann, W., Friese, M., & Wiers, R. W. (2008). Impulsive versus reflective influences on health behavior: A theoretical framework and empirical review. Health Psychology Review, 2, 111–137. doi:10.1080/17437190802617668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann, W., Schmeichel, B. B. J., & Baddeley, A. A. D. (2012). Executive functions and self-regulation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16, 174–180. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2012.01.006

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humes, G. E., Welsh, M. C., Retzlaff, P., & Cookson, N. (1997). Towers of Hanoi and London: Reliability of two executive function tasks. Assessment, 4, 249–257. doi:10.1177/107319119700400305.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado, M. B., & Rosselli, M. (2007). The elusive nature of executive functions: A review of our current understanding. Neuropsychology Review, 17, 213–233. doi:10.1007/s11065-007-9040-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kruglanski, A. W., Babush, M., Dugas, M., & Schumpe, B. M. (2015). The architecture of goal systems: Multifinality, equifinality, and counterfinality in means-end relations. In A. J. Elliot (Ed.), Advances in motivation science (pp. 69–98). San Diego: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, T., de Ridder, D., & Fujita, K. (2013). Self-regulation of health behavior: Social psychological approaches to goal setting and goal striving. Health Psychology, 32, 487–498. doi:10.1037/a0028533

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miyake, A., Friedman, N. P., Emerson, M. J., Witzki, A. H., Howerter, A., & Wager, T. D. (2000). The unity and diversity of executive functions and their contributions to complex “frontal lobe” tasks: A latent variable analysis. Cognitive Psychology, 41, 49–100. doi:10.1006/cogp.1999.0734

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monsell, S. (2003). Task switching. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 7, 134–140. doi:10.1016/S1364-6613(03)00028-7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sniehotta, F. F., Schwarzer, R., Scholz, U., & Schüz, B. (2005). Action planning and coping planning for long-term lifestyle change: Theory and assessment. European Journal of Social Psychology, 35, 565–576. doi:10.1002/ejsp.258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strack, F., & Deutsch, R. (2004). Reflective and impulsive determinants of social behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 8, 220–247. doi:10.1207/s15327957pspr0803_1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Veling, H., & van Knippenberg, A. (2006). Shielding intentions from distraction: Forming an intention induces inhibition of distracting stimuli. Social Cognition, 24, 409–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242-0001, USA

    Scout M. Kelly & John A. Updegraff

Authors
  1. Scout M. Kelly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John A. Updegraff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scout M. Kelly.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Scout M. Kelly and John A. Updegraff declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights and Informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all participants for being included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kelly, S.M., Updegraff, J.A. Substituting activities mediates the effect of cognitive flexibility on physical activity: a daily diary study. J Behav Med 40, 669–674 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-017-9839-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-017-9839-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation