Implementation intention and mental imagery to improve physical activity

Abstract

Background: Health-related behaviors may be difficult to initiate, like physical activity. The aim of this study is to test the effect of implementation intention and mental imagery to improve physical activity. Methods: In a randomized control trial, participants will be allocated to a control group, to an implementation intention group or to an implementation intention plus mental imagery group. For a medium effect size, our study requires a total sample size of 54 participants. Physical activity will be measured with self-report questionnaires and special wristwatches (accelerometers) for objective measures. Expected results: We expect that the participants in the implementation intention plus mental imagery group will have significantly higher scores on physical activity measures than participants in the two other group (calculated with an ANOVA with repeated measures, for a within-between interaction). Current stage of work: We received the material for the measures of the physical activity and we are currently at the recruitment phase. Discussion: This research will enable to compare the effectiveness of the mental imagery in addition to the implementation intention to initiate and maintain physical activity behaviors.