Goals Matter: Exercising for Well-Being But Not Health or Appearance Predicts Future Exercise Among Parents

A recent articled co-authored by Dr. Michelle Segar sought to understand goals that drive sustained exercise participation among parents. The study concluded that only goals related to immediate affective outcomes were associated with both autonomous motivation and exercise behavior over time. These findings support recent calls to “rebrand exercise” as a means to improve daily well-being. Such goals may drive parents to prioritize exercise because they value the immediate benefits it provides.

Read the article, published in the November 2018 issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.