Self-regulation and exercise behavior in older women.

The contribution of sensations and their interpretations during exercise were examined to understand exercise behavior in older women. Participants (N = 364) completed instruments measuring episode-specific and general interpretations of exercise, exercise behavior, and demographic variables. Results showed that episode-specific interpretations accounted for unique variance in exercise behavior after the effects of age and general interpretations were removed. Age and amount of concentration placed on feet and bodily movements were negatively related to perceived exercise behavior, whereas perceived exercise benefits were positively related to exercise behavior. Episode-specific interpretations are more immediate than general interpretations, making them a prime target for intervention.