@phdthesis{Schinkoeth2020,
  author    = {Schink{\"o}th, Michaela},
  title     = {Automatic affective reactions to exercise-related stimuli},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-47111},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-471115},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {II, 117},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Even though the majority of individuals know that exercising is healthy, a high percentage struggle to achieve the recommended amount of exercise. The (social-cognitive) theories that are commonly applied to explain exercise motivation refer to the assumption that people base their decisions mainly on rational reasoning. However, behavior is not only bound to reflection. In recent years, the role of automaticity and affect for exercise motivation has been increasingly discussed. In this dissertation, central assumptions of the affective-reflective theory of physical inactivity and exercise (ART; Brand \& Ekkekakis, 2018), an exercise-specific dual-process theory that emphasizes the role of a momentary automatic affective reaction for exercise-decisions, were examined. The central aim of this dissertation was to investigate exercisers and non-exercisers automatic affective reactions to exercise-related stimuli (i.e., type-1 process). In particular, the two components of the ART's type-1 process, that are, automatic associations with exercise and the automatic affective valuation to exercise, were under study. In the first publication (Schinkoeth \& Antoniewicz, 2017), research on automatic (evaluative) associations with exercise was summarized and evaluated in a systematic review. The results indicated that automatic associations with exercise appeared to be relevant predictors for exercise behavior and other exercise-related variables, providing evidence for a central assumption of the ART's type-1 process. Furthermore, indirect methods seem to be suitable to assess automatic associations. The aim of the second publication (Schinkoeth, Weymar, \& Brand, 2019) was to approach the somato-affective core of the automatic valuation of exercise using analysis of reactivity in vagal HRV while viewing exercise-related pictures. Results revealed that differences in exercise volume could be regressed on HRV reactivity. In light of the ART, these findings were interpreted as evidence of an inter-individual affective reaction elicited at the thought of exercise and triggered by exercise-stimuli. In the third publication (Schinkoeth \& Brand, 2019, subm.), it was sought to disentangle and relate to each other the ART's type-1 process components—automatic associations and the affective valuation of exercise. Automatic associations to exercise were assessed with a recoding-free variant of an implicit association test (IAT). Analysis of HRV reactivity was applied to approach a somatic component of the affective valuation, and facial reactions in a facial expression (FE) task served as indicators of the automatic affective reaction's valence. Exercise behavior was assessed via self-report. The measurement of the affective valuation's valence with the FE task did not work well in this study. HRV reactivity was predicted by the IAT score and did also statistically predict exercise behavior. These results thus confirm and expand upon the results of publication two and provide empirical evidence for the type-1 process, as defined in the ART. This dissertation advances the field of exercise psychology concerning the influence of automaticity and affect on exercise motivation. Moreover, both methodical implications and theoretical extensions for the ART can be derived from the results.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchinkoethBrand2020,
  author    = {Schink{\"o}th, Michaela and Brand, Ralf},
  title     = {Automatic associations and the affective valuation of exercise},
  series = {German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research},
  volume    = {50},
  journal   = {German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research},
  number    = {654},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Berlin ; Heidelberg},
  issn      = {2509-3150},
  doi       = {10.1007/s12662-020-00664-9},
  pages     = {366 -- 376},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The decision to exercise is not only bound to rational considerations but also automatic affective processes. The affective-reflective theory of physical inactivity and exercise (ART) proposes a theoretical framework for explaining how the automatic affective process (type‑1 process) will influence exercise behavior, i.e., through the automatic activation of exercise-related associations and a subsequent affective valuation of exercise. This study aimed to empirically test this assumption of the ART with data from 69 study participants. A single-measurement study, including within-subject experimental variation, was conducted. Automatic associations with exercise were first measured with a single-target implicit association test. The somato-affective core of the participants' automatic valuation of exercise-related pictures was then assessed via heart rate variability (HRV) analysis, and the affective valence of the valuation was tested with a facial expression (FE; smile and frown) task. Exercise behavior was assessed via self-report. Multiple regression (path) analysis revealed that automatic associations predicted HRV reactivity (β = -0.24, p = .044); the signs of the correlation between automatic associations and the smile FE score was in the expected direction but remained nonsignificant (β = -0.21, p = .078). HRV reactivity predicted self-reported exercise behavior (β = -0.28, p = .013) (the same pattern of results was achieved for the frown FE score). The HRV-related results illustrate the potential role of automatic negative affective reactions to the thought of exercise as a restraining force in exercise motivation. For better empirical distinction between the two ART type‑1 process components, automatic associations and the affective valuation should perhaps be measured separately in the future. The results support the notion that automatic and affective processes should be regarded as essential aspects of the motivation to exercise.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{SchinkoethBrand2020,
  author    = {Schink{\"o}th, Michaela and Brand, Ralf},
  title     = {Automatic associations and the affective valuation of exercise},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  issn      = {1866-8364},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-47552},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-475522},
  pages     = {366 -- 376},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The decision to exercise is not only bound to rational considerations but also automatic affective processes. The affective-reflective theory of physical inactivity and exercise (ART) proposes a theoretical framework for explaining how the automatic affective process (type‑1 process) will influence exercise behavior, i.e., through the automatic activation of exercise-related associations and a subsequent affective valuation of exercise. This study aimed to empirically test this assumption of the ART with data from 69 study participants. A single-measurement study, including within-subject experimental variation, was conducted. Automatic associations with exercise were first measured with a single-target implicit association test. The somato-affective core of the participants' automatic valuation of exercise-related pictures was then assessed via heart rate variability (HRV) analysis, and the affective valence of the valuation was tested with a facial expression (FE; smile and frown) task. Exercise behavior was assessed via self-report. Multiple regression (path) analysis revealed that automatic associations predicted HRV reactivity (β = -0.24, p = .044); the signs of the correlation between automatic associations and the smile FE score was in the expected direction but remained nonsignificant (β = -0.21, p = .078). HRV reactivity predicted self-reported exercise behavior (β = -0.28, p = .013) (the same pattern of results was achieved for the frown FE score). The HRV-related results illustrate the potential role of automatic negative affective reactions to the thought of exercise as a restraining force in exercise motivation. For better empirical distinction between the two ART type‑1 process components, automatic associations and the affective valuation should perhaps be measured separately in the future. The results support the notion that automatic and affective processes should be regarded as essential aspects of the motivation to exercise.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchinkoethWeymarBrand2019,
  author    = {Schink{\"o}th, Michaela and Weymar, Mathias and Brand, Ralf},
  title     = {Listening to the heart},
  series = {Psychology of sport and exercise},
  volume    = {45},
  journal   = {Psychology of sport and exercise},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {1469-0292},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101541},
  pages     = {4},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Objective: The affective-reflective theory of physical inactivity and exercise suggests that the mere thought of exercise can lead to an immediate somato-affective response which, if negative, will drive a physically inactive person to maintain his or her current exercise-avoidant behavior. This study aimed to test the assumption that the somatic core of this affective response can be identified by means of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Design: This study followed a within-subject experimental design. Method. Participants were 91 adult men and women whose HR and HRV were monitored whilst they viewed exercise-related and control pictures in a laboratory setting. Results: Analyses revealed a decrease in HRV during the viewing of exercise-related pictures in less physically active participants. These participants reported that the same pictures elicited feelings with relatively low affective valence and arousal. There were no changes in HR.},
  language  = {en}
}