title: Exercise self-identity: interactions with social comparison and exercise behaviour.
abstract: Possible interactions among exercise self-identity, social comparison and exercise behaviour were explored in a sample of 417 undergraduate students (mean age = 21.5, SD = 3.0; 73% female). Two models were examined using self-report data; (1) a mediation model which proposed an association between social comparison and exercise behaviour mediated by exercise self-identity and (2) a moderation model proposing an association between exercise behaviour and self-identity moderated by social comparison. Results of the mediation analyses revealed partial mediation of the social comparison--exercise behaviour relationship by self-identity in females. Results of the moderation analyses revealed in males a significant interaction of social comparison with exercise behaviour in the prediction of self-identity - the positive association between exercise behaviour and exercise self-identity showed only significant among male students who believed to exercise equally much or less than peers. Possible explanations and implications for exercise promotion are discussed.
authors: Health and Society Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Kirsten.verkooijen@wur.nl
authors: Kirsten T
authors: KT
authors: Verkooijen
authors: Gert-Jan
authors: GJ
authors: de Bruijn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult