Self-nudging toward physical activity : scale development, validation, and workplace implications

Bakker, Arnold B. (author), Toyama, Hiroyuki (author), Yajima, Jumpei (author), Iwano, Suguru (author), Hietajärvi, Lauri (author), Upadyaya, Katja (author), Salmela-Aro, Katariina (author)

This study uses nudging theory to develop and validate a measure for self-nudging toward physical activity. The research unfolds in three phases: (a) initial item development through interviews and literature review, (b) psychometric testing with Japanese employees (N = 1540), and (c) validity assessment in a longitudinal subsample (N = 716). Factor analyses confirm a reliable one-factor structure. The scale demonstrates content and predictive validity, showing positive relationships with physical activity, physical capacity (fitness and energy), well-being (workability, work engagement, and job satisfaction), and job performance; and negative relationships with strain (psychological distress, exhaustion, and occupational depression). Structural equation analyses show that self-nudging at Time 1 is positively related to well-being and negatively related to strain at Time 2 (3 months later) through increased physical capacity, with effects remaining significant after controlling for baseline measures. The findings contribute to our understanding of the associations among self-nudging, physical activity, and occupational well-being. The results have implications for both theoretical advancement in nudging research and practical applications in workplace health promotion.

• Language: English
• Keywords: working process, inclusion, well-being, nudging theory, physical activity, self-nudging, self-regulation, work engagement
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: EF - School of Economics and Business
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 27 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 18, iss. 1, article no. e70129
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180145
• UDC: 331.3
• ISSN on article: 1758-0846
• DOI: 10.1111/aphw.70129
• COBISS.SI-ID: 269112579
• Publication date in RUL: 03.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Applied psychology : Health and well-being
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1758-0846
• COBISS.SI-ID: 515771929

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: delovni proces, dobro počutje, vključenost

Projects

• Funder: AKA - Academy of Finland
• Project number: 345264
• Name: Resilient schools and the education system / Consortium: RESCUE

• Funder: AKA - Academy of Finland
• Project number: 336138
• Name: Emotional, cognitive, behavioral and social consequences of climate change for youth development