Cohesion is Associated With Perceived Exertion and Enjoyment During Group Exercise in Recreational Runners

Abstract

Two elements of group exercise, cohesion and social support, have been shown to positively affect exercise adherence. Recreational runners often join informal training groups to increase motivation, and thus training frequency and intensity. However, no previous research has investigated how training with a group may affect recreational runners’ exercise behavior, perceived exertion, or enjoyment, nor the relationship of perceived cohesion and social support with these variables. PURPOSE: Determine if performing an interval running workout coactively with a regular training group affects average speed, perceived exertion, and/or enjoyment in recreational runners, and if these variables were associated with perceived cohesion and/or social support. METHODS: Recreational runners (n = 7 male, n = 10 female) who regularly met with a local group performed two experimental trials, each under a different social condition, in a randomized order. Both trials took place on the same outdoor course and consisted of 8 uphill 400-meter running intervals separated by an equivalent jogging recovery. One trial was performed alone while the other was performed coactively with the group. Participants’ average interval time, RPE, and heart rate over the eight intervals was recorded for each trial. Enjoyment (end of each trial), social support and cohesion (prior to participation) were assessed with a visual analog scale and questionnaires, respectively. RESULTS: Mixed model regression analysis showed that men (122 ± 16.1 sec) ran faster (p = .002) than women (155 ± 27.8 sec) across both social conditions. There were no main or interaction effects of social condition on average speed (p > .87), RPE (p > .08), or enjoyment (p > .26). However, task cohesion (r = -.58, p = .01) and social support (r = -.73, p = .001) were negatively associated with RPE in the group condition only, despite similar speed in both conditions. Task cohesion was also positively associated with average enjoyment of the two trials. CONCLUSIONS: Performing an interval running workout amidst a familiar running group did not significantly affect recreational runners’ average speed, enjoyment, or RPE. However, although speed was similar in both conditions, those with higher perceived task cohesion and social support reported less effort when running in the group.