Self-expansion is the desire of expanding the self is a central human motivation which serves to increase oneโs potential efficacy to achieve goals by acquiring social and material resources, perspectives, and identities (Aron et al., 1991)
The self-expansion theory by Aaron A., Norman, C., & Aron, E (1998) focused on the development of romantic relationships through the increased self-concept of the partners.
Self-expansion adds positivity to an individualโs self-concept (e.g., feeling like one is growing as a person because of increasing perspectives, identities, skills, etc.). It leads to increased self-efficacy, which boosts behaviour change.
The motivation to self-expand comes from peopleโs ability to accomplish their goals. Thus self-expansion is related to psychological models of self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, self-actualization, and self-improvement motivation.
Previous research has shown that self-expansion is related to various healthy behaviours such as starting exercise, refusing substance consumption, training for a new skill and others.
The research investigated self-expansion through physical exercise. Fifty participants wore Fitbit and answered self-report questionnaires and follow-up questionnaires for 28 days.
Exercise has various physical and mental health benefits. Walking is one of the most preferred physical activities; people now use multiple devices to count their daily steps, burnt calories, heart rate and other such things. Completing 10,000 steps every day is a goal for many.
The study is the first to investigate domain-specificity for self-expansion by examining PA-specific self-expansion in addition to general self-expansion. The study was a longitudinal design with daily assessments over four weeks.
Daily steps were measured with the Fitbit One, a device typically worn at the hip, clipped to clothing, and is a valid and reliable device for measuring the daily number of steps.
The study required the participants to visit the lab twice apart from which the survey was an online procedure involving daily questionnaires and physical activity.
The modified versions of the Self Expansion Questionnaire (SEQ), the first and most commonly used measure of self-expansion, were used in the research. The SEQ has 14 items with a 1 (not very much) to 7 (very much) response scale. Item scores are summed to create a total score.
SEQ focuses on self-expansion within romantic relationships with all questions about the partner or relationship; the measure was modified, so all items were appropriate for our sample and design.
For example, the item โDo you often learn new things about your partnerโ was modified to โDo you often learn new thingsโ for the general self-expansion measure and โDo you often learn new things about physical activityโ for the PA-specific self-expansion measure.
In conclusion, the research found a positive correlation between physical activity and self-expansion specific to physical activity and in general.
