Abstract
Positive affect, exercise, and leaning forward body postures have been shown to play a role in the motivational variables that assist in the goal achievement process. The aim of this study is to analyze whether the manipulation of the body (via posture) and behavior (via exercise) increases approach motivation to achieve a personal goal while individuals are joy-induced through a virtual reality mood-induction procedure (VR-MIP). The sample was composed of 85 volunteers (Mage = 23.92; 76.5% women) who were assigned to three conditions in which their posture and movements were manipulated during a joy VR-MIP: high-approach motivation condition (leaning forward posture plus pedaling); medium-approach motivation condition (reclining backward posture plus pedaling); and low-approach motivation condition (reclining backward posture without pedaling). This study highlights that adopting a leaning forward posture while pedaling during joy induction increases approach motivation to achieve a personal goal, and the role of joy as a moderator in this relationship.
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Notes
This exclusion criterion was established so that the symptoms of depression do not interfere with the main outcome of this study −approach motivation−, as a previous study (Wang et al. 2006) has shown a possible association between depression and decreased approach motivation. Moreover, individuals with symptoms of depression were excluded as in other studies (e.g., van Strien et al. 2013), as these individuals could have more difficulties in experiencing joy during the MIP-VR.
The four motivational items were analyzed together in a composite variable, but also separately, because these analyses make it possible to obtain more specific information about the three motivational variables: approach motivation intensity, perceived behavioral control, and planning to achieving a goal.
Note that participants in the high condition were recruited later and not randomly assigned. Consequently, the differences in age and sex between conditions could be due to the lack of random assignment. In order to control the possible influence or confounder effect of these variables on the results of this study, sex and age variables were entered as covariates in subsequent analyses.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the Red de Excelencia “PROMOSAM” (PSI2014-56303-REDT) for its support in the development of this study. CIBERobn is an initiate of the ISCIII.
Funding
This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain) under grant “BODYTA” (Plan Nacional I + D + I 2013–2016, PSI2014–51928-R).
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Miragall, M., Vara, M.D., Cebolla, A. et al. Leaning forward to increase approach motivation! The role of joy, exercise, and posture in achieving goals. Curr Psychol 40, 2390–2399 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00175-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00175-3