Improving physical activity using a single personalized consequence-based approach-avoidance training: Effects on self-reported behaviors, attitudes, and choices.

Objective: Despite their potential in improving health behaviors, such as physical activity (PA), the effectiveness of interventions targeting automatic precursors remains contrasted. We examined the effects of a single session of ABC training - a personalized consequence-based approach-avoidance training - on PA, relative to an active control condition and a control condition.

Methods: Middle-aged US participants (N = 360, 53 % of women) either completed an ABC training (being instructed to approach PA to obtain self-relevant consequences), an approach-avoidance training (approaching PA in 90 % of trials), or a control training (approaching PA in 50 % of trials).