The impact of action plans on habit and intention strength for physical activity in a web-based intervention: is it the thought that counts?

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dc.contributor.authorRebar, A.L.
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, R.
dc.contributor.authorShort, C.E.
dc.contributor.authorPlotnikoff, R.
dc.contributor.authorDuncan, M.J.
dc.contributor.authorMummery, K.
dc.contributor.authorAlley, S.
dc.contributor.authorSchoeppe, S.
dc.contributor.authorTo, Q.
dc.contributor.authorVandelanotte, C.
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractObjective Action planning is a common approach used in physical activity interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the association of frequency, consistency and content of action planning with physical activity behaviour, intention strength and habit strength. Methods and Measures Within a 3-month web-based, computer-tailored physical activity intervention, participants (N = 115; 68.7% female, M age =43.9; range = 22–73 years) could create 6 rounds of action plans for 4 activities each (24 total). Results Consistency of action planning during the intervention was associated with change in physical activity at 9-months, and intention and habit strength at 3-months and 9-months. Frequency of action planning was negatively associated with intention at 3-months and 9-months. The effect of action planning consistency on physical activity behaviour was no longer significant when accounting for change in intention and habit strength. Conclusion Consistency of how, where, when and with whom people plan their physical activity may translate into stronger physical activity habits. Interventions should avoid encouraging making many distinct action plans, but rather encourage stable contexts through consistent action planning.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityAmanda L. Rebar, Rebecca Williams, Camile E. Short, Ronald Plotnikoff, Mitch J. Duncan, Kerry Mummery, Stephanie Alley, Stephanie Schoeppe, Quyen To, Corneel Vandelanotte
dc.identifier.citationPsychology and Health, 2025; 40(4):550-570
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/08870446.2023.2241777
dc.identifier.issn0887-0446
dc.identifier.issn1476-8321
dc.identifier.orcidShort, C.E. [0000-0002-4177-4251]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/145796
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherTaylor and Francis Group
dc.relation.grantNHMRC
dc.rights© 2023 the author(s). Published by Informa UK limited, trading as Taylor & Francis group. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the creative commons attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. the terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2023.2241777
dc.subjectHabit formation; motivation; exercise; behavioural maintenance; implementation intentions
dc.subject.meshHealth Behavior
dc.subject.meshHealth Promotion
dc.titleThe impact of action plans on habit and intention strength for physical activity in a web-based intervention: is it the thought that counts?
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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