Hummel, Laura (2024) Reappraisal of Exercise Discomfort: The Moderating Roles of Previous Experience and Gender on Affective Responses and Future Behaviour. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Physical inactivity is a significant societal issue, often hindered by practical barriers. Muscular discomfort during exercise negatively affects exercise adherence, underscoring the need for effective regulation strategies. Cognitive reappraisal (CR), a technique for reinterpreting negative experiences, has improved affective responses across various health domains. However, its application to muscular discomfort remains underexplored, with only one study reporting reduced negative affect towards sensations. The current study investigates whether CR can reduce negative affective responses and enhance exercise adherence over 14 days, considering the moderating effects of previous exercise experience (PEE) and gender. Participants were randomly assigned to a reappraisal (N = 29) or neutral condition (N = 32), with the manipulation involving a video linking discomfort with muscle growth. Results indicated that CR significantly reduced perceived intensity for participants with low PEE (p = .019) but increased intensity for those with high PEE (p = .023). Additionally, women reported reduced negative affect towards sensations, while men experienced an increase (p = .037). Although CR did not directly impact exercise adherence (p = .275), significant correlations were found between negative affect after exercise and subsequent affective attitude (p = .008) and adherence (p = .020). While CR may help some individuals navigate discomfort and reduce the negative affective experience, its impact on long-term adherence needs further exploration, particularly regarding individual differences. Keywords: cognitive reappraisal, physical exercise, discomfort, affective response, exercise maintenance, individual differences
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Dijkstra, A. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Applied Social Psychology (ASP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Nov 2024 12:56 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Nov 2024 12:56 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4439 |
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