The role of social support and physical activity goal progress on psychological wellbeing

Abstract

Both social support and physical activity (PA) have been related to psychological wellbeing. In their Relational Catalyst model, Feeney and Collins (2015) state that social support can help someone pursue opportunities and goals, which in turn influence one’s wellbeing. The current study explored this Relational Catalyst Model in the context of pursuing PA goals. Participants (N=47) identified a new PA goal or an expansion of a PA goal as well as an individual who could be their ‘support partner’ (70.2 % friends). At an in-person visit, participants completed a measure of wellbeing and goal capability and then discussed their PA goal with their partner. Immediately following, they completed measures of partner responsiveness, and goal capability. Three weeks later, they completed a measure of social support, goal progress, and wellbeing. Multiple regressions were performed to predict goal capability, goal progress, and wellbeing. After controlling for initial goal capability, partners’ responsiveness was associated with greater capability (R²= .07, p=.02). Partner responsiveness was also associated with social support three weeks later (R²= .12, p=.036). Goal progress at week three (R²=.33) was predicted by goal capability (p=.002) but not social support (p=.195). After adjusting for initial wellbeing, autonomy was the only wellbeing subscale that was significant (R²= .10, p=.029) with goal progress (p=.008) but not social support (p=.462) being significant predictors. These findings highlight the relationship between PA goal progress and wellbeing as well as provided a potential role of social support through perceptions of goal capability.