Investigating the relationship between exercise imagery, leisure-time exercise behavior, and self-efficacy

The present study investigated the relationship between imagery use, leisure-time exercise, and exercise self-efficacy within a diverse range of exercisers. One hundred and sixty-two participants (Mage = 23.84; SD = 7.09; 97 female, 65 male) completed the Exercise Imagery Inventory (EII; Giacobbi, Hausenblas, Penfield, 2005), the Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin Shepherd, 1985), and an exercise self-efficacy scale (Rodgers Sullivan, 2001) directly following an exercise session. The EII was also modified to include two rating scales of visual and kinesthetic imagery ability. Separate hierarchical multiple regression analyses determined that appearance-health imagery significantly predicted exercise behavior and coping efficacy, and technique imagery significantly predicted task efficacy (all p <.001). Furthermore, exercisers' abilities to create appearance-health images moderated the relationship between imagery frequency and leisure-time exercise, coping efficacy, and scheduling efficacy (all p <.05). These findings suggest that appearance-health and technique imagery may lead to an increase in exercise behavior and self-efficacy beliefs.