The interaction of implicit and explicit processes in young female runners and non-runners

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Recently, research in the area of exercise psychology has demonstrated that both implicit and explicit processes are associated with exercise behavior. On the one hand, this association is independent (i.e. higher positive implicit associations coincide with higher levels of physical activity irrespective of explicit associations and vice versa) (Brand & Schweizer, 2015; Chevance et al., 2019; Hyde et al., 2010; Phipps et al., 2021). On the other hand, empirical findings indicate that the interplay of implicit and explicit processes (i.e., extent of discrepancy and concordance of implicit and explicit processes) is important for behavioral consistency (e.g. exercise frequency and adherence, goal achievement) (Berry et al., 2018; Brand & Antoniewicz, 2016; Divine et al., 2021). The aim of this study is to investigate the interaction of implicit and explicit associations towards running in a sample of young female runners and non-runners.
METHODS: A sample of 90 female runners and non-runners (Mage = 23.8 years, SD = 4.8; nregular_runners = 28; nirregular_runners = 32; nnon-runners = 30) was recruited. Implicit associations (IA) towards running were measured using a picture-based Single-Target Implicit Association Test (ST-IAT; Bluemke & Friese, 2008). Explicit affective associations (EA) towards running were assessed by 7-point semantic differential scales (Crites et al., 1994). Implicit-explicit interaction scores (i.e., implicit-explicit concordance (IEC); implicit-explicit discrepancy (IED)) were found using principal component analysis (Brand & Antoniewicz, 2016). Data was collected online by using the QDesigner Software (© Amescon). K-means cluster analysis was then used to identify patterns of implicit and explicit associations and their interaction in young female runners and non-runners.
RESULTS: The average silhouette width estimate indicated a four clusters solution (nCluster1 = 12; nCluster2 = 15; nCluster3 = 25; nCluster4 = 38). Cluster 1 including two irregular runners and 10 non-runners showed high negative IED scores (i.e., IA > AA) and moderate-to-small IEC scores. Cluster 2 including 5 regular runners, 8 irregular runners and two non-runners showed high positive IED scores (i.e., EA > IA) and moderate-to-small IEC scores. Cluster 3 including two regular runners, 9 irregular runners and 14 non-runners showed moderate-to-small IED scores (i.e., IA = EA) and high negative IEC scores (i.e, both IA and EA with a negative valence). Cluster 4 including 21 regular runners, 13 irregular runners and four non-runners showed moderate-to-small IED scores (i.e., EA = IA) and high positive IEC scores (i.e, both IA and EA with a positive valence).
CONCLUSION: The results indicate that different stages of running behavior (i.e. regular and irregular runners and non-runners) can be associated with implicit and explicit associations interacting in a similar way. None of the different stages of running behavior was, however, exclusively associated with one specific pattern of implicit-explicit interaction. Yet, regular runners and non-runners did not share similar implicit-explicit interaction patterns for the most part in this sample, while irregular runners share similar implicit-explicit interaction patterns with both regular runners and non-runners. Taken together, running interventions should aim to reduce IED and at the same time foster positive IEC in young female novice runners.
REFERENZEN:
Berry, T. R., Rodgers, W. M., Divine, A., & Hall, C. (2018). The relationship of explicit–implicit evaluative discrepancy to exercise dropout in middle-aged adults. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 40(2), 92-100.
Bluemke, M., & Friese, M. (2008). Reliability and validity of the Single‐Target IAT (ST‐IAT): assessing automatic affect towards multiple attitude objects. European journal of social psychology, 38(6), 977-997.
Brand, R., & Schweizer, G. (2015). Going to the gym or to the movies?: situated decisions as a functional link connecting automatic and reflective evaluations of exercise with exercising behavior. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 37(1), 63-73.
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Chevance, G., Bernard, P., Chamberland, P. E., & Rebar, A. (2019). The association between implicit attitudes toward physical activity and physical activity behaviour: A systematic review and correlational meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 13(3), 248-276.
Crites Jr, S. L., Fabrigar, L. R., & Petty, R. E. (1994). Measuring the affective and cognitive properties of attitudes: Conceptual and methodological issues. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 20(6), 619-634.
Divine, A., Berry, T., Rodgers, W., & Hall, C. (2021). The relationship of self-efficacy and explicit and implicit associations on the intention–behavior gap. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 18(1), 29-36.
Hyde, A. L., Doerksen, S. E., Ribeiro, N. F., & Conroy, D. E. (2010). The independence of implicit and explicit attitudes toward physical activity: Introspective access and attitudinal concordance. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11(5), 387-393.
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Original languageGerman
Publication statusPublished - 30 Sept 2022
EventÖSG Tagung 2022: Sport-Wissen-schaf[f]t-Praxis - Universitäts- und Landessportzentrum Salzburg/Rif, Hallein/Rif, Austria
Duration: 29 Sept 20221 Oct 2022

Conference

ConferenceÖSG Tagung 2022
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityHallein/Rif
Period29/09/221/10/22

Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012

  • 501 Psychology

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