Make exercise easier: A brief intervention to in fluence implicit attitudes towards exercise and physical activity behavior

Taking appropriate measures to enhance the positive connection of implicit attitudes towards exercise could be of some significance for the promotion of physical activity. Computerized evaluative conditioning (EC) is a strategy commonly used to alter individual implicit cognition. The aim of these studies was to explore the effects of an EC procedure on implicit attitudes and physical activity behavior over the course of the following week. Study 1 explored whether 100 or 200 EC learning trials change implicit attitudes towards exercise. Study 2 used the EC technology in Study 1 to explore whether modified implicit attitudes towards exercise had any impact on physical activity in the subsequent week. The EC procedure with 200 pairings increased implicit attitudes in comparison to a control group, but no significant effects were found for the EC procedure with 100 pairings. Although there were no significant differences between groups regarding self-reported physical activity, EC learning significantly increased objective physical activity only on the first day in the subsequent week. These findings provide evidence that a single EC learning session can successfully change implicit attitudes towards exercise; however, the effect of EC on behavior is only temporary, lasting in this study for one day. Other studies are needed to develop more effective interventions targeting subsequent physical activity behavior.