Understanding Exercise Identity and Behavior
Understanding Exercise Identity, Commitment and Behaviour
Josh Carson
250641160
Psychology of Exercise 2276F
Paige Gregson
November 26, 2012
Abstract
Different relationships influence the way one acts in society. Associating a specific identity with many relationships, or with a particularly strong relationship, increases likelihood that the identity will surface across other situations. Therefore, this commitment (quantitative & qualitative) influences exercise identity. The stronger one’s exercise identity is, the greater one’s exercise habits will be. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between these measures: qualitative & quantitative commitment, exercise identity strength, and exercise behaviour. Participants (N=174, Male = 56, Female = 118) were undergraduate kinesiology students (Mage=20.01 SD= 1.35) in an exercise psychology course. A survey was circulated to consenting individuals during class time, requiring 15 minutes to answer all questions. The survey consisted of questions based upon three measures: The Exercise Identity Scale (Anderson & Cychosz, 1994) a 5 point scale (1-5). Secondly, Burkes & Reitzes’ Commitment Scale (1991) a two part 5 point scale (1-5). The final measure was the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin & Shepard, 1985) in which results were measured using arbitrary units, where the higher the score, the better. Data was analyzed using statistical software SPSS 20.0. Exercise identity based questions reported a mean of 3.91 (SD = 0.75). Quantitative commitment questions reported a mean of 2.11 (SD = 0.69). Qualitative commitment questions reported a mean of 3.17 (SD = 1.08). The mean score for the GLTEQ was 64.44 (SD = 29.33). Participants were categorized into four separate groups based upon their exercise habits (ex. 6+ months of regular exercise, intent to begin regular exercise in the next month). It was apparent from the correlations between variables that there was a
Josh Carson
250641160
Psychology of Exercise 2276F
Paige Gregson
November 26, 2012
Abstract
Different relationships influence the way one acts in society. Associating a specific identity with many relationships, or with a particularly strong relationship, increases likelihood that the identity will surface across other situations. Therefore, this commitment (quantitative & qualitative) influences exercise identity. The stronger one’s exercise identity is, the greater one’s exercise habits will be. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between these measures: qualitative & quantitative commitment, exercise identity strength, and exercise behaviour. Participants (N=174, Male = 56, Female = 118) were undergraduate kinesiology students (Mage=20.01 SD= 1.35) in an exercise psychology course. A survey was circulated to consenting individuals during class time, requiring 15 minutes to answer all questions. The survey consisted of questions based upon three measures: The Exercise Identity Scale (Anderson & Cychosz, 1994) a 5 point scale (1-5). Secondly, Burkes & Reitzes’ Commitment Scale (1991) a two part 5 point scale (1-5). The final measure was the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin & Shepard, 1985) in which results were measured using arbitrary units, where the higher the score, the better. Data was analyzed using statistical software SPSS 20.0. Exercise identity based questions reported a mean of 3.91 (SD = 0.75). Quantitative commitment questions reported a mean of 2.11 (SD = 0.69). Qualitative commitment questions reported a mean of 3.17 (SD = 1.08). The mean score for the GLTEQ was 64.44 (SD = 29.33). Participants were categorized into four separate groups based upon their exercise habits (ex. 6+ months of regular exercise, intent to begin regular exercise in the next month). It was apparent from the correlations between variables that there was a
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