An Examination of the Interconnectedness of Exercise Habit, Stress, and Exercise Behaviours

Exercise habit relates to higher exercise (Lutz et al., 2010), but it is unclear if stress impacts this relationship. Although the relationship between exercise and stress is well documented, little research has examined how stress can impact the habit-exercise link. According to the Physical Activity Model (PAM; Nigg et al., 2008), stress diminishes psychological factors linked to exercise, such as self-efficacy (one’s belief about their ability to cope with difficulties; Bandura & Schunk, 1981). Given the positive links between exercise habit and self-efficacy, and based on contentions within the PAM, we examined if heightened stress moderated the effect of habit on exercise. Carleton University undergraduate students (N = 141; Mage = 19.37 years, SD = 3.89; 73% female) completed self-report surveys at two time points across seven days. Moderation analyses were performed using the PROCESS Macro (Hayes, 2022). Habit at time one related to exercise at time one (r = .44, p < .05) and time 2 (r = .31, p < .05). Exercise at time 1 related to exercise at time two (r = .54, p < .05). Stress did not moderate the link between habit and change in exercise behaviours (p = .75). It is unclear if null results stem from small sample sizes or use self-report questionnaires that may have recall bias. Measuring stress within the same context for all participants may be key. Reschke et al. (2024) did this when they measured stress during a university’s exam season, which is something for future research to consider.