Abstract

WRZECIONKOWSKA, Dagmara; CALLEJA, Nazira; ROBLES CABRERA, Adriana  and  DIAZ LOVING, Rolando. The Effect of Two Intervention Protocols to Increase Physical Exercise: Longitudinal Study. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2022, vol.12, n.2, pp.91-105.  Epub Apr 21, 2023. ISSN 2007-4719.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2022.2.456.

The objective of this study was to understand the impact of the Mental Contrasting and Implementation Intentions (MCII) self-regulation technique as a complement to an intervention based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) to perform exercise. Seventy-six participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 who wanted to lose weight (Mage =40 years; MBMI =29) were recruited. Participants were randomized into two conditions: HAPA (n=36) and HAPA + MCII (n=40). The variables of interest (self-reported hours of exercise, body measurements and psychological health with DASS-21 and IWQOL-Lite) were measured at the beginning, in week 6 and in 12. We found a significant increase in the hours of exercise and significant decrease in BMI and IWQOL-Lite Physical Functioning and Self-esteem when comparing the occasions of measurement for the total sample. Greater effects of the HAPA + MCII protocol were observed than of the HAPA for the study variables, with the exception of the DASS-21 Anxiety and the IWQOL-Lite Sexual life. However, the differences were not statistically significant. The study indicates the important role of self-efficacy and its operationalization for a successful intervention. When combining two protocols, the ceiling effect that can be obtained with a single protocol should be considered.

Keywords : Health Action Process Approach (HAPA); Mental Contrasting and Implementation Intentions (MCII); Physical exercise; Obesity.

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