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Exploring How Active and Insufficiently Active Individuals Respond to Specific and Non-Specific Physical Activity Goals
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Exploring How Active and Insufficiently Active Individuals Respond to Specific and Non-Specific Physical Activity Goals

Rebecca M. Hawkins, Christian Swann and Patricia C. Jackman
Research quarterly for exercise and sport, Vol.95(1), pp.60-68
2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2022.2147894
PMID: 36693248
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Health Publications

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Abstract

Exercise goal setting open goals physical activity
Purpose: This study aimed to extend understanding of goal setting in physical activity (PA) by exploring qualitatively active and insufficiently active individuals’ experiences of pursuing specific and non-specific goals. Methods: Twelve active (Mage = 25.00 years) and nine insufficiently active (Mage = 24.33 years) adults were interviewed after participating in three 6-minute walking tests, during which they pursued specific and non-specific (open and DYB) goals and completed a no-goal control condition. Content analysis was used to examine each subgroup independently, before a between-group comparison to explore similarities and differences in experiences was undertaken. Results: Several strategies were employed to enhance trustworthiness. Our analysis was organised into seven categories: (1) perception of challenge; (2) perceived control; (3) performance satisfaction; (4) motivational intensity; (5) enjoyment; (6) self-efficacy; and (7) strategies for pursuing goals. Our findings suggest that active participants responded more positively to specific goals, with differences in the cognitions experienced before, during, and after the goal conditions. Conversely, insufficiently active participants responded more positively to non-specific goals, with differences in the cognitions experienced before, during, and after the goal conditions and more negatively to specific goals. Conclusion: Findings extend understanding of specific and non-specific goals in PA and underline the need to consider goal specificity in the prescription of PA for certain population groups most in need of intervention.

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