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Objective: This study examines age-differential association patterns between intentions, planning and physical activity in young and middleaged individuals. The effectiveness of planning to bridge the intention– behaviour gap is assumed to increase with advancing age. We explore the use of behaviour change strategies that include selection, optimisation and compensation (SOC) as underlying mechanisms for age differences. Methods: In N¼265 employees of a national railway company (aged 19–64 years), intentions, planning, SOC strategy use and physical activity were assessed at baseline (Time 1) and again 1 month later (Time 2). Hypotheses were tested in two different path models. Results: Age moderates the extent to which planning mediates the intention–behaviour relation due to an increasing strength of the planning–behaviour link. As a possible psychological mechanism for these age differences, we identified SOC strategy use as a mediator of the age by planning interaction effect on physical activity. Conclusion: These findings suggest differential mechanisms in behaviour regulation in young and middleaged individuals.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	self-regulation; planning; selection, optimisation and compensation
Research Division:	Psychology
Research Group:	Clinical and health psychology
Research Field:	Health psychology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Public health (excl. specific population health)
Objective Field:	Behaviour and health
UTAS Author:	Schuez, BEC (Dr Benjamin Schuez)
ID Code:	75074
Year Published:	2010
Web of Science® Times Cited:	57
Deposited By:	Psychology
Deposited On:	2012-01-06
Last Modified:	2012-06-19
Downloads:	4 View Download Statistics