Personality variables and gender-role identity as predictors of exercise activity and adherence to exercise
Abstract
One purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive utility of selected exerciser characteristics in mediating adherence to exercise activity. This was done by entering seven personality variables from the Personality Research Form-E (Jackson, 1984) and feminine and masculine scale scores (by sex) from the Bem Sex Roles Inventory (Bem, 1981) into a multiple regression equation. It was hypothesized that personality characteristics (PC) and gender-role identity (GRI) would predict level of exercise adherence. No linear relationship between PC, GRI, and exercise adherence was discerned as the overall model was not found to be statistically significant (p $<$.05).
A second purpose of this study was to utilize PC and GRI to predict class of exercise activity. PC and GRI variables were utilized in a discriminant function analysis to predict membership in 9 classes of exercise activity. Though the overall model was not statistically significant (p $<$.05), some trends were noted and some support was established in that 88% of exercisers adherent after at least 26 weeks of activity were classed. Finally, chi-square analyses were utilized to determine whether observed values of exercisers' gender-role identities exceeded expected the gender-role identities attributed to 50 exercise activities when GRI of exerciser and activity matched than when they did not. This was not supported (p $<$.05). Findings are discussed in light of methodological considerations.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
DeLucia-Waack, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Physical education|Personality|Womens studies
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