The effect of regulatory focus and time preference on the dual process of physical activity: A cross-sectional study among nurses

Aims: To examine the dual process of physical activity adoption among nurses and its relationships with two personal orientations—regulatory focus—the tendency to focus on promotion (vs. prevention) goals and time preference as measured by delay discounting: the tendency to overvalue immediate rewards over long-term ones. Background: The dual process theory suggests that both conscious and non-conscious processes influence the adoption of physical activity. However, the role of regulatory focus and time preference in this process was not yet examined. Design: A cross-sectional online survey among 143 nurses during August–November 2017. Methods: Validated measures were used to estimate physical activity habit strength (a non-conscious process) and intention, planning and behaviour control (conscious processes), physical activity level, regulatory focus and time preference. Multivariable ordered logit and logistic models were specified to examine determinants of both processes. Results: Promotion focus was positively associated with having a strong habit of physical activity among nurses with moderate-to-low activity levels, but it was negatively associated with habit for active nurses. As for time preference, higher delay discounting was negatively associated with nurses' conscious intention to adopt physical activity and with their action planning. Conclusion: Promotion focus and time preference are associated with both conscious and non-conscious processes of physical activity adoption among nurses and should be considered in future health promotion interventions targeted to this population. Impact: Promotion focus and time preference have a significant role in this dual process. Enhancing physical activity of health providers by adjusting the intervention to personal orientations may improve public health.