Jenna D Gilchrist

Pride and physical activity: Behavioural regulations as a motivational mechanism?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between fitness-related pride and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). A secondary aim was to examine behavioural regulations consistent with organismic integration theory (OIT) as potential mechanisms of the pride-MVPA relationship. Design: This study used a cross-sectional design. Methods: Young adults (N = 465; Mage = 20.55; SDage = 1.75 years) completed self-report instruments of fitness-related pride, motivation and MVPA. Results: Both authentic and hubristic fitness-related pride demonstrated a moderate positive relationship with MVPA, as well as positive associations to more autonomous regulations. Behavioural regulations mediated the relationship between both facets of pride and MVPA with specific indirect effects noted for identified regulation and intrinsic motivation. Conclusion: Overall, these findings demonstrate the association between experiencing fitness-related pride and increased engagement in MVPA. The tenability of OIT was also demonstrated for offering insight into explaining the association between pride and physical activity engagement.

When a sense of “we” shapes the sense of “me”: exploring how groups impact running identity and behavior

Abstract Whereas running is an inherently independent form of exercise, it is often a social endeavor conducted in groups. We tested how group membership and social contexts were associated with running identities and behavior. In Study 1, 103 running group members read vignettes where they imagined training on their own or within their group. Group imagery participants reported stronger running identities and this effect was primarily evident among females. In Study 2, 227 runners reported running identity and behavior along with the extent that they run in formal and informal groups. Those who ran in both formal and informal groups reported stronger identities and increased behavior. These findings build upon identity theory to reveal how group membership is connected to personal identities.

Authentic pride regulates runners’ training progress

Objectives: Among both exercisers and athletes, affect provides feedback about progress toward goals and feelings of authentic pride can serve as a barometer of achievement. Low levels of authentic pride may signal that changes in effort or behavior are needed. Prior work has focused on stable individual differences in pride rather than fluctuations in pride as people pursue their goals. The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that achievement is associated with authentic pride and that fluctuations in authentic pride predict changes in training behaviors as evidenced by fluctuations in subsequent training progress. Design: This study used a longitudinal design with repeated weekly online diaries and multilevel modelling to test study objectives. Method: Participants training for a long‐distance race (N = 131, 78% women; M = 35.4 years) provided weekly self‐reports on pride and training progress for seven weeks. Results: Multilevel models indicated that training progress predicted authentic pride at both the within‐ (b = 0.43, p < .001) and between‐person level (b = 0.53, p < .001). When participants reported lower authentic pride than usual on a given week, training progress increased the following week (b = −0.31, p < .001). Conversely, greater authentic pride was associated with greater training progress on average (b = 0.21, p < .001). Conclusions: Consistent with control‐process accounts, runners may use their feelings of pride to regulate their behavior. Low feelings of pride can be adaptive for goal striving by signaling when strategies or efforts need to be adjusted. HighlightsPositive emotions are important for goal striving.Training progress was positively associated with feelings of pride.Greater authentic pride was associated with greater training progress, on average.Low authentic pride on a given week was associated with greater training progress the following week.Feelings of authentic pride can be adaptive for goal striving by signaling when strategies or effort need to be adjusted.

Body pride and physical activity: Differential associations between fitness- and appearance-related pride in young adult Canadians

Body-related pride has been associated with health behaviors such as physical activity; however, researchers have overlooked distinctions between different domains of pride (appearance/fitness) and the two facets of pride (authentic/hubristic). The objective of the present research was to examine relationships between fitness- and appearance-related authentic and hubristic pride and physical activity. In Study 1, participants (N = 115) completed measures of fitness-related pride and participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Both authentic and hubristic pride were positively associated with MVPA. In Study 2, participants (N = 173) completed measures of appearance-related pride and MVPA. Neither facet of pride predicted engagement in MVPA. In Study 3, participants (N = 401) completed measures of both fitness-related pride and appearance-related pride as well as MVPA. Authentic and hubristic fitness-related pride were associated with MVPA, while appearance-related hubristic pride was negatively associated with MVPA. Results support the adaptive nature of pride in motivating engagement in health behaviors when it is experienced around the bodys functionality rather than appearance.

Feelings of pride are associated with grit in student-athletes and recreational runners

&NA; Grit is an adaptive trait that predicts achievement outcomes in various contexts. However, little is known about the factors that predict grit in achievement domains such as sport and exercise. Using the broaden‐and‐build theory as the guiding framework, we sought to test a model whereby feelings of pride predicted grit across two separate samples. Undergraduate athletes (N = 109) and recreational long‐distance runners (N = 116) completed questionnaires at a single time‐point. In study 1, state pride was positively associated with grit (r = 0.26, p = .003). No gender differences were observed. In study 2, both global and fitness‐related pride were assessed to determine their association with grit. Inverse associations between global pride and grit were noted for authentic (&bgr; = 0.33, p < .001) and hubristic (&bgr; = −0.26, p = .003) pride. Only fitness‐related authentic (&bgr; = 0.42, p = .003), but not hubristic (&bgr; = 27, p = .053), pride was a significant predictor of grit. Findings provide initial insight into pride and grit in sport and exercise contexts. Partial support for the broaden‐and‐build theory was found. Specifically, experiences of pride are associated with grit, but only when success is attributed to ones own effort. Attributing success to innate ability or superiority may result in reduced persistence and interest toward goal attainment. Given these findings, it may be important to create opportunities to experience authentic pride to develop grit. HighlightsFostering experiences of pride is important for facilitating grit.Only experiences of pride that result from ones own effort were predictive of grit.There were no gender differences in the experience of pride or grit.Feeling proud of your effort provides a basis of support to draw upon relative to experiences of pride that are based on innate talent or ability.