Time Preferences and Physical Activity: Insights from Behavioral Economics

Objective: We examined the relationship between time preferences and physical activity among adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 7071 adults in the United States. Time preferences were elicited based on a hypothetical dollar amount today or a larger sum in 30 days, and a dollar amount 30 days from now or a larger sum in 60 days. Physical activity was self-reported. Results: In multivariable analysis, high future time preferences were 1.2 times more likely to meet guidelines than those that were not future oriented (30 days: OR=1.24, 95%CI 1.02-1.52; 60 days: OR= 1.23, 95%CI=1.06-1.44). Conclusions: We demonstrate a positive relationship between future time preferences and physical activity. Future research should aim to assess this relationship using prospective designs.