Implicit attitudes towards exercise and physical activity behaviour among in-patients with psychiatric disorders

Publication date: Available online 30 August 2018Source: Mental Health and Physical ActivityAuthor(s): Markus Gerber, Janine Ehrbar, Ralf Brand, Franziska Antoniewicz, Serge Brand, Flora Colledge, Lars Donath, Stephan T. Egger, Martin Hatzinger, Edith Holsboer-Trachsler, Christian Imboden, Nina Schweinfurth, Stefan Vetter, Sebastian LudygaAbstractThe current body of evidence suggests that in healthy participants, implicit attitudes towards physical activity explain variance in exercise behaviour beyond explicit cognitive processes. However, such relationships have not been examined in psychiatric patients, although this may contribute to a better understanding of the motivational and volitional resources needed to self-regulate their exercise behaviour. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study aimed to assess implicit attitudes towards exercise among psychiatric in-patients, and to correlate these implicit attitudes with their physical activity levels. Patients (N = 101) showing a psychiatric disorder, but no severe cognitive impairment, were directly recruited from psychiatric clinics. Their physical activity levels were assessed using both accelerometers and self-reports. Additionally, patients reported psychiatric symptoms and performed a single-target implicit association test (ST-IAT) with exercise employed as the target category. Of all patients, 39% showed a preference for exercise, whereas 13% showed an aversion towards exercise. The implicit attitudes of the ...
Source: Mental Health and Physical Activity - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research