The role of implicit and explicit motivation across health-behaviours

Research on health-related behaviour has typically adopted deliberative models of motivation and explicit measures. However, growing support for implicit processes in motivation and health-related behaviour has caused a shift toward developing models that incorporate implicit and explicit processes. The presentation will focus on the role of implicit motivation and engagement in a range of health-related behaviours, in a large sample (N = 162). A dual-systems model was developed to test whether implicit motivation provided unique prediction of behaviour. Analyses, including structural equation models for each behaviour, indicated some support for the role of implicit measures; explicit measures and intention provided consistent, significant prediction across most behaviours. These results provide some support for dual-systems models, and offers an important contribution to understanding why some behaviours may be better predicted by either implicit or explicit measures. Future implications for implicit processes and self-determination theory are outlined