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The relationship between social physique anxiety and exercise adherence among women in Singapore
Author
Yen, Ang
Supervisor
Smith, Daniel
Abstract
Exercise adherence research has been largely inconclusive. Research into this important aspect of exercise behavior continues to gather insights as well as controversies, due to the lack of standardization in exercise adherence measurement and theoretical framework in the research design. Recent research suggests that anxiety pertaining to one's physique, or Social Physique Anxiety (SPA), a term coined by Hart, Leary and Rejeski (1989), may be a determinant to exercise adherence. The proposition is that SPA could be a diagnostic tool for physique conscious individuals in an exercise setting, in that SPA can be used to identify those who suffer from high physique anxiety. It is theorized that those who have high SPA will avoid an exercise environment which has potential evaluative others. However, the research into the relationship between SPA and exercise adherence is limited and equivocal: with findings showing a strong positive to negative to zero relationship.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social physique anxiety and exercise adherence among aerobic dance class participants from Singapore Sports Council (SSC) regional fitness centers and the recreation center at a university campus. A total of one hundred and four female participants from six aerobic classes were surveyed using the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, developed by Hart and her associates (1989). Subjects' exercise attendance was carefully tracked over twelve aerobic classes in six or twelve weeks. A series of telephone follow-up interviews were conducted among non-adherers, namely, subjects who failed to attend more than 50% of the total number of classes. The Pearson correlation statistic analysis showed that there was no relationship between the subjects' exercise adherence and their social physique anxiety levels. However, the qualitative analysis validated some well-established exercise determinants as well as certain adherence models.
The study also revealed a unique demographic profile among the female aerobic participants in Singapore: they were generally young (mean age M=29.23) and thin (mean body mass index M=21.90). They appeared to be less disturbed about how others view their body, as indicated by their relatively lower SPA scores (M=25.72), as compared to their western counterparts (M=30).
This was the first exercise adherence study done among aerobic participants in Singapore. The implications of the findings will be special interest for cross-cultural comparison with previous research done in the West. Discussion on how social physique anxiety affects exercise behaviors and how it may impact in the design of aerobic rooms, fitness centers, exercise class format and design, and intervention strategies for high-risk individuals were reviewed. Possible reasons for the findings were presented and the implications of the results were discussed.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social physique anxiety and exercise adherence among aerobic dance class participants from Singapore Sports Council (SSC) regional fitness centers and the recreation center at a university campus. A total of one hundred and four female participants from six aerobic classes were surveyed using the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, developed by Hart and her associates (1989). Subjects' exercise attendance was carefully tracked over twelve aerobic classes in six or twelve weeks. A series of telephone follow-up interviews were conducted among non-adherers, namely, subjects who failed to attend more than 50% of the total number of classes. The Pearson correlation statistic analysis showed that there was no relationship between the subjects' exercise adherence and their social physique anxiety levels. However, the qualitative analysis validated some well-established exercise determinants as well as certain adherence models.
The study also revealed a unique demographic profile among the female aerobic participants in Singapore: they were generally young (mean age M=29.23) and thin (mean body mass index M=21.90). They appeared to be less disturbed about how others view their body, as indicated by their relatively lower SPA scores (M=25.72), as compared to their western counterparts (M=30).
This was the first exercise adherence study done among aerobic participants in Singapore. The implications of the findings will be special interest for cross-cultural comparison with previous research done in the West. Discussion on how social physique anxiety affects exercise behaviors and how it may impact in the design of aerobic rooms, fitness centers, exercise class format and design, and intervention strategies for high-risk individuals were reviewed. Possible reasons for the findings were presented and the implications of the results were discussed.
Date Issued
2001
Call Number
GV482 Yen
Date Submitted
2001