Exertion of Self-Control Increases Fatigue, Reduces Task Self-Efficacy, and Impairs Performance of Resistance Exercise

The purpose of this study was to investigate sequential indirect pathways by which self-control exertion affects resistance exercise performance through fatigue and task self-efficacy. Participants (N = 50) completed 2 sets of maximum repetitions at submaximal loads on bench press and leg extension resistance exercises separated by a Stroop task, which was either congruent (control) or incongruent (self-control exertion). Fatigue was assessed using the State Self-Control Capacity Scale following the Stroop task and participants rated their task self-efficacy for bench press and leg extension prior to performing the second sets of tasks. The self-control exertion condition reported greater fatigue, lower task self-efficacy, and showed a greater reduction in resistance exercise performance compared to controls. Results supported a serial mediation model indicating that exertion of self-control causes increased fatigue, which in turn leads to reduced self-efficacy to exert self-control and subsequent reductions in self-controlled task performance.