Sean R Locke

Attempting to be active: Self-efficacy and barrier limitation differentiate activity levels of working mothers

Working mothers are less physically active than working women without children and mothers who do not work. The purpose of this study was to examine concurrent self-regulatory efficacy and barriers to physical activity in a sample of working mothers. Women completed a mixed-methods survey which included measures of physical activity, concurrent self-regulatory efficacy, and barriers. Sufficiently active women experienced significantly greater concurrent self-regulatory efficacy and significantly less barrier limitation and frequency. No significant group differences were found for age, domestic duties performed, and children’s extracurricular activities. Thematic analysis of barriers revealed six themes of common and unique factors, including limited time and family activities.

Physical Activity in the Transition to University: The Role of Past Behavior and Concurrent Self-regulatory Efficacy

Abstract Objective: Two studies were conducted to examine the relationship between past physical activity, concurrent self-regulatory efficacy (CSRE), and current physical activity during the transition to university. Participants: Study 1 included 110 first-year undergraduate students recruited during October/November of 2012. Study 2 involved 86 first-year undergraduate students recruited during October/November of 2013. Methods: Surveys were completed online, concurrently (Study 1) and prospectively (Study 2). Results: CSRE was found to positively predict current physical activity participation in both studies. However, the relation of CSRE to physical activity was attenuated when past behavior was taken into account. Conclusions: Physical activity is one goal that university students pursue concurrently with other goals. Not only is current planned activity related to ones past participation in physical activity, it is also related to self-regulatory beliefs about managing that activity in the new context of university life.

Perceptions of exercise consistency: Relation to exercise-related cognitive errors and cognitions

This study examined psychological differences between individuals (1) with varying perceptions of their exercise adherence pattern and (2) who do and do not make exercise-related cognitive errors. A total of 364 adults completed an exercise pattern and cognitive errors questionnaire. Individuals perceiving themselves as consistent exercisers reported more adaptive social cognitive outcomes (e.g. higher self-regulatory efficacy) than those perceiving themselves as inconsistent. Individuals expressing stronger exercise-related cognitive errors exercised less and reported problematic cognitions (e.g. more struggle with exercise decisions). These results link inconsistent adherence perceptions to weaker social cognitions and exercise-related cognitive errors, a novel form of bias related to limited exercise engagement.

Making one-sided exercise decisions: The influence of exercise-related cognitive errors

Exercise-related cognitive errors reflect biased processing of exercise-relevant information. The purpose of this study was to examine whether differences existed between individuals reporting low and high exercise-related cognitive errors on information processed about a relevant exercise decision-making situation. In all, 138 adults completed an online questionnaire. The high exercise-related cognitive error group primarily focused on negative content about the situation compared to the low exercise-related cognitive error group who focused on both positive and negative content. The high exercise-related cognitive error group displayed biased processing of exercise information, as suggested by the cognitive errors model. Future research should examine whether biasing information processing caused by exercise-related cognitive errors can be modified and attenuated.