Tell me where you live, and I will predict your exercise levels: How self‐regulatory action control, objective and perceived physical environment jointly explain physical activity time

Abstract Objectives This study investigated how self‐regulatory action control indicators (self‐regulatory effort, awareness of standards, self‐monitoring) and perceived physical environment (perceived physical environment at home, in the neighbourhood, and availability of health promotion programs) are connected to explain moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over time. Furthermore, we examined whether these associations were moderated by an ‘objective’ physical environmental indicator, comparing small towns and rural areas with fewer PA facilities with a large city with more physical activity (PA) facilities. Methods and Design The study applied a prospective design, with participants ( N = 593) providing data twice, spanning 8 months between the measurements. MVPA time was assessed using ActiGraph GT3X‐BT accelerometers. Two‐group mediation models were tested with path analyses. Results The associations representing mediating effects, encompassing perceived home environment → awareness of standards → MVPA were significant and positive in the city (with more PA facilities), but no mediation effects were found for data collected in towns/rural areas (with fewer PA facilities). High perceived availability of health promotion programmes was directly related to lower MVPA, but only in towns/rural areas (with fewer PA facilities). Conclusions The findings suggest distinct patterns of associations in the larger city, compared to smaller towns/rural areas. Different perceived environmental characteristics and different self‐regulatory action control facets may directly and indirectly predict MVPA of citizens living in these two types of locations.