Causal attributions regarding personal exercise goal attainment in exerciser schematics and aschematics

Key factors motivating persons to adopt and adhere to regular exercise are frequently examined but have not yet been clearly identified. Schema Theory and Attribution Theory have been shown to predict exercise and other health-enhancing behaviors. We examined the role of exercise schemata related to perceived success or failure in self-determined exercise goal and ACSM frequency guideline attainment in an adult sample. The findings supported previous exercise behavior results. Exerciser schematics exercised more frequently, for longer duration per exercise session/bout, and reported higher levels of subjective exercise intensity. Exerciser schematics had higher levels of self-efficacy and positive outcome expectancies for exercise, and were more than four times more likely to rate exercise goal attainment success than failure. Attribution internality, stability, and personal control over exercise were predictive of exerciser schemata and schematics were more likely (OR = 24.16) to meet exercise frequency guidelines. Self-schemas may provide insight into health behavior change variables.