Differentiated roles of social encouragement and social constraint on physical activity behavior.
BACKGROUND
Social support is, in general, positively associated with exercise behavior. However, social influence may not always be helpful and may sometimes lead to obligation or a sense of intrusion rather than encouragement or assistance.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine relationships among different types of social influence (social encouragement and social constraint) and exercise motivation and exercise behavior.


METHODS
Structural equation modeling was used to investigate relationships among exercise and social influence variables.


RESULTS
A model was found to fit the data well in which social encouragement had an indirect association with exercise behavior through motivational variables. Social constraint was associated with only one aspect of exercise motivation--"have to", or obligatory, commitment--and had no direct or indirect association with exercise behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings emphasize the importance of social influences that promote desirable behaviors in contrast to those that pose constraints on the failure to perform desirable behaviors.
Gabriele
Jeanne M
JM
Department of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA. Jgabriele@wustl.edu
Walker
Mark S
MS
Gill
Diane L
DL
Harber
Kent D
KD
Fisher
Edwin B
EB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D012944:Social Support