Ten thousand steps and more. What motivates us to run rather than watching a series? How to put yourself, or recover, to a sporting activity in the event of illness? On paper, we know all the beneficial effects of physical activity for health, morale, etc. But, in fact, it is not so simple.
Any decision -making is influenced by factors such as attention, mood, motivation, etc. In psychology, motivation is defined as “all internal and/or external forces producing trigger, management, intensity, persistence and stopping behavior”, can be read in the chapter “Motivation and Barriers to physical activity in the chronic sick person “of Inserm collective expertise on 2019 physical activity .
“This motivation is based on several dimensions, according to the studies of scientific literature: that relating to beliefs that we have on the positive and/or negative effects of physical activity, his ability to change his behavior – on The basis of what has been experienced or those around them – and that relating to behaviors and influences of the environment, “explains Julie Boimé, teacher -researcher at the UFR Staps de Montpellier, member of the group of Inserm experts
“We play on what is called the fundamental needs of individuals; it is the theory of self-determination, that is to say how people endorse their actions with a feeling of choice Rather than with a feeling of constraint, one of the major contemporary theories of motivation, “explains Professor Fabienne d’Etrape-Longueville, director of the Staps department of Côte d’Azur University.
Surround yourself with active people
“The entourage and the social environment can be very powerful, continues Julie Boimé, whether professionals (health personnel and professionals in adapted physical activity), the relations established with other practitioners, encouragement family or friends. “It works at any age. The more we are surrounded by active people, the easier it is. A study of a team of American researchers, published on October 19 in Plos One , has shown that social interactions of sedentary people with other moderately active people encouraged them to move.
Material, geographic and financial contexts are also decisive. These factors interact with each other. Many works show that the urban environment (cycle paths, fitted pedestrian routes, etc.) encourages physical activity. Likewise, having active breaks on working time, sedentary lifestyles, such as establishing days without elevator by encouraging people to systematically take the stairs, moves more. A key element is to find an activity for which we have fun. The stake is also taking habits, like washing your teeth.
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