I hate sports: Uncovering and Modifying Hidden barriers to become more physically active
Additional information
Type of assignment: BSc. thesis
Internal/external: internal
How many students? 2
Supervision: in (sub)groups and individual
Includes data collection? yes
Type of research: quantitative
Number of ECTS? 15 ECTS
Research assignment
Traditionally research studying the psychosocial determinants of physical activity focuses on cognitive factors that people are consciously aware of, like attitude and self-efficacy, while the influence of affective processes and implicit associations – such as associating physical activity with pleasure or discomfort – may be underestimated. This is reflected in the following quote: “I know that having more exercise is good for my health, but I just hate the feeling of being sweaty and tired…”.
With the emergence of techniques to both measure (with IATs) and modify (using cognitive bias modification techniques, or CBM) such implicit processes, new opportunities for interventions have become available.
In this project, we will first develop and measure (using an online IAT tool) the implicit bias towards physical activity as either a pleasurable or unpleasurable behavior. Then, we will expose participants to a brief CBM training protocol using the TIIM app, which is expected to strengthen the association between PA and positive affect. Finally, we will take a post-test to measure changes on both implicit and explicit cognitive variables.
Who do we look for?
Students interested in why some people enjoy physical activity while others dislike it and in novel intervention techniques.
References
- Brand R and Ekkekakis P. (2018). Affective-reflective theory of physical inactivity and exercise. Foundations and preliminary evidence. GER J EXERC SPORT RES 2018 · 48:48–58 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-017-0477-9
- Chevance G, Bernard P, Chamberland PE and Rebar A (2019). The association between implicit attitudes toward physical activity and physical activity behaviour: a systematic review and correlational meta-analyses. HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW2019, VOL. 13, NO. 3, 248–276: https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2019.1618726 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17437199.2019.1618726?src=recsys