title: Self-presentation in exercise: changes over a 12-week cardiovascular programme for overweight and obese sedentary females.
abstract: Self-presentational concerns, shown to influence exercise-related cognitions and behaviours, are evaluated frequently in the absence of exercise or following a single bout of physical activity. The purpose of the present study was to examine longitudinally, the extent to which participating in a structured 12-week cardiovascular exercise intervention elicited changes in self-presentational efficacy expectancy (SPEE) and social physique anxiety (SPA). Participants were 80 sedentary women with overweight or obesity (mean body mass index 29.02 kg/m(2), SD=4.71) between the ages of 19 and 45 wanting to begin an exercise programme (mean age 33.4 years, SD=7.6). The Self-Presentational Efficacy Scale (SPES) and the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS) were completed by each participant prior to commencing the study, and at the 6- and 12-week time points. For those who completed the programme, repeated measures ANOVAs indicated significant increases in SPEE between baseline and week 6 (P<0.001, η(2)=0.37), and week 6 to 12 (P<0.05, η(2)=0.10), while SPA decreased significantly between baseline and week 6 (P<0.01, η(2)=0.16). Bivariate correlation analyses revealed that length of participation in the study was positively related to SPEE and negatively related to SPA. Implications of focusing on these variables within a physical activity intervention are discussed with respect to exercise behaviour, programme development and adherence.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada. epearso5@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Erin S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Kimberley L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Gammage
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult