Abstract
Expectancy-value theories consider anticipated outcomes of engaging in exercise and associated value of these outcomes as key predictors of exercise behaviour. Research to support the link between outcome expectancies (OE), outcome value (OV), and exercise behaviour, however, is weak (Williams, Anderson, & Winnett, 2005). It has been suggested that the relationship between OE and exercise is important but masked by an underlying moderation effect by OV. To explore this potential moderated relationship, measures of physical, social, and psychological OE and OV, as well as exercise behaviour, were assessed in 445 young adults (Mage = 24.5). Each OV subclassification (e.g., physical, social, and psychological) was tested as the moderator of the relationship between its corresponding OE and exercise behaviour. Out of all analyses, only social OV moderated the relationship between social OE and exercise behaviour. The overall regression model was significant (Adj R2 = .02, p = .01), with social OE significantly contributing to the prediction of exercise behaviour (std. beta = .18, p < .01). The interaction term was significant (b = .76, p = .03) thus warranting further examination. The positive association between exercise and social OE increased in strength when social outcomes were of greater value. These findings support the notion that OE only influence exercise behaviour if they are valued, and allude to the importance young adults place on the social outcomes of exercise.
