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Abstract:
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Possible selves represent how people think about their potential and about their future states (Markus & Nurius , 1986 ) . To explore the cognitive processes involved in the decision to exercise , the possible selves (hoped -for and feared ) of 93 undergraduate women at the University of Texas at Austin were examined , as were two self -efficacy constructs – scheduling and barrier self -efficacy . Most important hoped -for and feared possible selves related to exercise were categorized and analyzed . Physical and Health categories , followed by Personal and Spiritual , Occupation and Education , and Body Image were most commonly listed for hoped -for selves , while categories of Body Image , Health , and Personal and Spiritual , were most commonly cited for most important feared possible selves . Participants rated the importance , self -efficacy and outcome expectancy of their most important hoped -for and feared selves highly . Participants also felt highly efficacious in overcoming scheduling and barrier obstacles with regard to exercise . Comparisons were made across exercise levels , differentiating between those meeting or not meeting the recommended level of physical activity (Godin , 2011 ) . Multiple logistic regression analyses , controlling for age , were used to test for significant relationships between motivational variables and exercise . Steps taken to achieve the most important possible self (odds ratio [OR] = 1 .88 , 95 % CI = 1 .21 – 2 .92 ) , steps taken to avoid the most important feared self (OR = 1 .58 , 95 % CI = 1 .04 – 2 .40 ) , scheduling self -efficacy (OR = 1 .58 , 95 % CI = 1 .18 – 2 .10 ) , and barrier self -efficacy (OR = 1 .58 , 95 % CI = 1 .04 – 2 .40 ) were related to meeting the recommended level of physical activity , compared to not meeting the recommended level . These cross -sectional results suggest that the incorporation of college women’s possible selves and other motivational factors into interventions to increase women’s physical activity may be a promising area for future research . |