Title: Dynamics in Self‐Regulation: Plan Execution Self‐Efficacy and Mastery of Action Plans
Abstract: This study investigated whether an individual's plan execution self‐efficacy precedes mastery of the respective action plan or vice versa. Study participants were 122 cardiac rehabilitation patients. Plan execution self‐efficacy and mastery of a personal action plan on physical activity were assessed each week for 6 weeks after discharge from rehabilitation. Physical exercise was assessed 2 months after discharge. Multilevel cross‐lagged panel analyses resulted in a positive effect of mastery on subsequent self‐efficacy, whereas self‐efficacy did not predict subsequent mastery at the within‐person level. At the between‐person level, however, self‐efficacy predicted following physical exercise. Thus, the predictive power of self‐efficacy was developed in relation to mastery of personal action plans over time. Implications for behavior change interventions are discussed.