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När viljan finns men handlingen uteblir: en litteraturstudie om intention-beteendegapet vid fysisk aktivitet
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology.
2026 (Swedish)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesisAlternative title
When intention does not translate into action : a literature review on the intention-behavior gap in physical activity (English)
Abstract [sv]

Fysisk aktivitet beskrivs ofta som en viktig del av hälsa och välbefinnande, men trots kunskap, rekommendationer och goda intentioner är det många som inte når rekommenderad aktivitetsnivå. Det väcker frågan varför viljan att vara fysiskt aktiv inte alltid leder till handling. Inom hälsopsykologisk forskning beskrivs detta som intention–beteendegapet. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att undersöka vilka hinder som påverkar övergången från intention till beteende vid fysisk aktivitet, med fokus på situationer där fysisk aktivitet uteblir trots intention. Studien genomfördes som en litteraturstudie. Databassökningar gjordes i CINAHL, Academic Search Premier och SPORTDiscus. Peer reviewed originalartiklar på engelska inkluderades om de berörde fysisk aktivitet, hinder och intention–beteendegapet. Materialet analyserades genom en tematisk sammanställning där återkommande begrepp och resultat organiserades i övergripande teman. Resultatet visade att fysisk aktivitet inte enbart påverkas av motivation eller kunskap, utan av ett komplext samspel mellan självreglering, meningsfullhet, identitet, tidigare erfarenheter och omgivningens förutsättningar. Centrala teman var upplevda fördelar, kunskap och meningsfullhet, omgivning och social kontext, mål och beteendereglering samt identitet, self efficacy och vanor. Resultatet visade även att hinder kan variera över tid och att samma person kan behöva olika typer av stöd i olika situationer. Slutsatsen är att hinder för fysisk aktivitet inte bör förstås som bristande vilja hos individen. För att minska intention–beteendegapet behöver hälsofrämjande arbete i större utsträckning utgå från människors vardag, resurser, sociala sammanhang och möjlighet att skapa fysisk aktivitet som känns meningsfull och hållbar över tid. 

Abstract [en]

Physical activity is often described as an important part of health and wellbeing, yet despite knowledge, recommendations and good intentions, many people do not reach the recommended level of physical activity. This raises the question of why the intention to be physically active does not always lead to action. In health psychology research, this is described as the intention–behaviour gap. The aim of this literature study was to examine which barriers affect the transition from intention to behaviour in relation to physical activity, with a focus on situations where physical activity does not occur despite intention. The study was conducted as a literature study. Database searches were carried out in CINAHL, Academic Search Premier and SPORTDiscus. Peerreviewed original articles in English were included if they addressed physical activity, barriers and the intention–behaviour gap. The material was analysed through a thematic synthesis, in which recurring concepts and findings were organised into main themes.The results showed that physical activity is not only influenced by motivation or knowledge, but by a complex interaction between selfregulation, meaningfulness, identity, previous experiences and contextual conditions. The central themes were perceived benefits, knowledge and meaningfulness, environment and social context, goals and behavioural regulation, and identity, self-efficacy and habits. The results also showed that barriers may vary over time and that the same person may need different types of support in different situations. The conclusion is that barriers to physical activity should not be understood as a lack of individual willpower. To reduce the intentionbehaviour gap, health-promoting work needs to be based to a greater extent on people’s everyday lives, resources, social contexts and opportunities to create physical activity that feels meaningful and sustainable over time. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. 53
Keywords [en]
physical activity, intention–behaviour gap, barriers, self-efficacy, health promotion, behavioural regulation, well-being, meaningfulness
Keywords [sv]
fysisk aktivitet, intention–beteendegap, hinder, self efficacy, hälsopromotion, beteendereglering, välmående, meningsfullhet
National Category
Health Sciences Public Health, Global Health and Social Medicine
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-118805OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-118805DiVA, id: diva2:2079014
Educational program
Health Promotion, bachelor's level
Supervisors
Examiners
Available from: 2026-06-25 Created: 2026-06-24 Last updated: 2026-06-25Bibliographically approved

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