The Association between Psychological and Behavioral Economic Factors and the Rapid Assessment Disuse Index (RADI) during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Clare Meernik (), Qing Li, Jeffrey Drope, Ce Shang, Tammy Leonard, Bob M. Fennis, Mahmoud Qadan, Carolyn E. Barlow, Laura F. DeFina, Reid Oetjen, Loretta DiPietro and Kerem Shuval
Additional contact information
Clare Meernik: Department of Research, The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX 75230, USA
Qing Li: Department of Research, The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX 75230, USA
Jeffrey Drope: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Ce Shang: College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Bob M. Fennis: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, 9747 Groningen, The Netherlands
Mahmoud Qadan: School of Business Administration, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel
Carolyn E. Barlow: Department of Research, The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX 75230, USA
Laura F. DeFina: Department of Research, The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX 75230, USA
Reid Oetjen: School of Global Health Management and Informatics, College of Community Innovation and Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Loretta DiPietro: Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Kerem Shuval: Department of Research, The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX 75230, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 8, 1-10

Abstract: The deleterious health effects of prolonged sitting and physical inactivity are well-established, yet these behaviors are pervasive in modern culture. To inform interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behavior and increasing lifestyle activity, this study examined psychological and behavioral economic factors that may be associated with these behaviors. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 4072 adults in Israel. Participants completed a survey pertaining to lifestyle behaviors and economic preferences using an online platform in September 2020. The psychological and behavioral economic factors of interest were patience, self-control, risk-taking, grit, and general self-efficacy. Sedentary behavior and lifestyle activity (e.g., time spent moving about) was assessed using the Rapid Assessment Disuse Index (RADI) tool (higher score indicative of more sitting and less activity). Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses examined the association between psychological and behavioral economic factors and RADI score. Among 4072 participants, those who were impatient (vs. patient, β: −1.13; 95% CI: −1.89, −0.38) had higher grit (β: −1.25, 95% CI: −1.73, −0.77), and those who were more risk-seeking (β: −0.23; 95% CI: −0.33, −0.13) had lower RADI scores (i.e., less sedentary, more active). Significant associations for grit and risk-taking were also observed when the RADI score was dichotomized, such that individuals who had higher grit or were more risk-seeking were more likely to be non-sedentary/active. No significant associations were observed for self-control or general self-efficacy. Higher grit and more risk-seeking were associated with a decreased propensity for sedentary behaviors and inactivity; these factors may provide targets for interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behavior and increasing lifestyle activity.

Keywords: sedentary behavior; physical inactivity; lifestyle activity; psychology; behavioral economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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