Effortful self-control as a potential target for physical activity maintenance

= -.51, 95 % CI [-.58, -.44]. Mediation analyses showed that the relationships between autonomous motivation and habit with MVPA have a significant indirect effect through effortful self-control. Additionally, temptations partially mediated the associations between both motivational constructs and effortful self-control. These findings provide preliminary support for the role of effortful self-control as a psychological process linking autonomous motivation and habit with physical activity behavior. Reducing the amount of effortful self-control for physical activity, by strengthening motivation for physical activity and weakening temptations, may be a promising strategy to support sustained engagement in physical activity.