Making one-sided exercise decisions: The influence of exercise-related cognitive errors

J Health Psychol. 2018 Aug;23(9):1240-1249. doi: 10.1177/1359105316648485. Epub 2016 Jun 5.

Abstract

Exercise-related cognitive errors reflect biased processing of exercise-relevant information. The purpose of this study was to examine whether differences existed between individuals reporting low and high exercise-related cognitive errors on information processed about a relevant exercise decision-making situation. In all, 138 adults completed an online questionnaire. The high exercise-related cognitive error group primarily focused on negative content about the situation compared to the low exercise-related cognitive error group who focused on both positive and negative content. The high exercise-related cognitive error group displayed biased processing of exercise information, as suggested by the cognitive errors model. Future research should examine whether biasing information processing caused by exercise-related cognitive errors can be modified and attenuated.

Keywords: cognitive errors; exercise; health psychology; information processing; social cognitions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Decision Making / physiology*
  • Exercise / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Self Concept*
  • Thinking / physiology*
  • Young Adult