Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Physical Education Institute (Main Campus), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
  • 2 Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Education Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Foundation of Education, Faculty of Education Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Social Work, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 451191, China
Brain Sci, 2022 Jul 08;12(7).
PMID: 35884703 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12070896

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many investigations have been performed on the effects of mental exertion that consumes self-regulatory resources and then affects physical and/or cognitive performance later on. However, the effect of manipulating self-regulation and interventions to attenuate this negative effect remains unclear. Moreover, there is continuous controversy regarding the resource model of self-regulation.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review to assess the literature on manipulating self-regulation based on four ingredients (standard, monitoring, strength, and motivation) in order to counter mental exertion and improve physical and/or cognitive performance. The results provide more insight into the resource model.

METHOD: A thorough search was conducted to extract the relevant literature from several databases, as well as Google Scholar, and the sources from the references were included as grey literature. A self-regulation intervention compared to a control condition, a physical and/or cognitive task, and a randomised controlled trial were selected.

RESULT: A total of 39 publications were included. Regarding the four components of self-regulation, the interventions could mainly be divided into the following: (i) standard: implementation intervention; (ii) monitoring: biofeedback and time monitoring; (iii) strength: repeated exercise, mindfulness, nature exposure, and recovery strategies; (iv) motivation: autonomy-supportive and monetary incentives. The majority of the interventions led to significant improvement in subsequent self-regulatory performance. In addition, the resource model of self-regulation and attention-restoration theory were the most frequently used theories and supported relevant interventions.

CONCLUSION: In line with the resource model, manipulating the four components of self-regulation can effectively attenuate the negative influence of mental exertion. The conservation proposed in the strength model of self-regulation was supported in the current findings to explain the role of motivation in the self-regulation process. Future studies can focus on attention as the centre of the metaphorical resource in the model.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.