Exercise behaviour in an aerobics class: The impact of personality traits and efficacy cognitions

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 425 - 431
• Main Authors: Yeung, Robert R., Hemsley, David R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aerobic exercise; Behaviour; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition; Efficacy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Personality; Personality traits; Personality. Affectivity; Predictors; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Women; Physical exercise; Human; Extraversion introversion; Attitude; Self efficacy; Female; Personality; Psychological well being; Social cognition; Gymnastics
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/S0191-8869(97)80008-6

The current study attempted to predict exercise attendance in a group of 46 initially sedentary women over the course of an 8-week aerobics exercise programme. Baseline measures of personality, self-efficacy and psychological well-being were assessed prior to the inception of the exercise programme. The results of a multiple regression indicated that the personality trait extraversion and an exercise-specific measure of self-efficacy accounted for approximately 16% and 15% of the variance in exercise session attendance, respectively. Specifically, high extraversion was associated with lower attendance, while high self-efficacy was related to higher attendance. These findings are discussed in relation to implications for exercise research.