Document Detail


The invisible benefits of exercise.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21299296     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Objective: To examine whether-and why-people underestimate how much they enjoy exercise. Design: Across four studies, 279 adults predicted how much they would enjoy exercising, or reported their actual feelings after exercising. Main Outcome Measures: Main outcome measures were predicted and actual enjoyment ratings of exercise routines, as well as intention to exercise. Results: Participants significantly underestimated how much they would enjoy exercising; this affective forecasting bias emerged consistently for group and individual exercise, and moderate and challenging workouts spanning a wide range of forms, from yoga and Pilates to aerobic exercise and weight training (Studies 1 and 2). We argue that this bias stems largely from forecasting myopia, whereby people place disproportionate weight on the beginning of a workout, which is typically unpleasant. We demonstrate that forecasting myopia can be harnessed (Study 3) or overcome (Study 4), thereby increasing expected enjoyment of exercise. Finally, Study 4 provides evidence for a mediational model, in which improving people's expected enjoyment of exercise leads to increased intention to exercise. Conclusion: People underestimate how much they enjoy exercise because of a myopic focus on the unpleasant beginning of exercise, but this tendency can be harnessed or overcome, potentially increasing intention to exercise. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).
Authors:
Matthew B Ruby; Elizabeth W Dunn; Andrea Perrino; Randall Gillis; Sasha Viel
Related Documents :
7136776 - Lactate in blood, mixed skeletal muscle, and ft or st fibres during cycle exercise in man.
10331886 - Plasma lactate decline during passive recovery from high-intensity exercise.
20512586 - Effects of compression stockings during exercise and recovery on blood lactate kinetics.
8497016 - Fingertip and venous blood lactate concentration in response to graded treadmill exercise.
18308896 - The prediction of maximal oxygen uptake from submaximal ratings of perceived exertion e...
2606856 - Conductive and convective heat flows of exercising humans in cold water.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association     Volume:  30     ISSN:  1930-7810     ISO Abbreviation:  Health Psychol     Publication Date:  2011 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-02-08     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8211523     Medline TA:  Health Psychol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  67-74     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Socioeconomic disparities in pain: the role of economic hardship and daily financial worry.
Next Document:  Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight child...