Adults’ exercise-related “all-or-nothing” thinking and leisure-time physical activity: A scoping review (protocol)

Abstract

Objective: This scoping review will document the existing literature on the connection between adults’ exercise-related “all-or-nothing” thinking and volitional, leisure-time physical activity. Introduction: While numerous publications examine the impact of physical activity on cognitive flexibility as an executive function, significantly less research has considered the reverse relationship and opposite question: whether and how rigid “all-or-nothing” thinking impacts people’s decision to engage in physical activity. It is possible that when individuals believe physical activity must be done in a specific, prescribed manner it creates an “all-or-nothing” mindset, which may be a barrier to adopting and sustaining a more physically-active lifestyle. As physical activity is vital to sustained health and well-being, identifying the ways in which such “all-or-nothing” beliefs and thinking may impact people’s participation in physical activity is a critical factor in understanding how to better promote adults’ physical activity.