Group Cohesion Effects in Exercise Classes

Abstract

Membership in cohesive groups has a powerful influence on individual behaviors such as adherence and conformity. Although the psychological andphysiological benefits of exercise have been well documented, individual adherence has proven to be problematic. Given that exercise classes are minimal groups at best, the purpose of the present study was to determine whether measures of cohesion secured during the early stages of group development could be used to predictsubsequent drop-out behavior In Study 1, participants in universityfitness classes were administered the Group Environment Questionnaire after the third week of a 13-week session. Adherence behavior, as measured by absenteeism, was monitored for 4 weeks and used to form two extreme groups-regular attenders and drop-outs. The regular attenders (n = 20) were those individuals who attended at least 66% of the monitored classes; drop-outs (n = 17) were those individuals who were absent for all classes in the monitored period. Discriminant function analysis showed that regular attenders held significantly greater perceptions of task cohesion than the drop-outs. Study 2 was a replication with exercise participants in private fitness clubs. A protocol identical to Study 1 was used to measure cohesion, operationalize adherence and analyze the data. Perceptions of cohesion again were a reliable predictor of adherence in the private club setting. However, it was measures of social cohesion that significantly discriminated between regular attenders (n = 30) and drop-outs (n = 16). The results were discussed in terms of their implications for (a) the dynamics of minimal groups, (b) the generality of the cohesion-adherence relationship in exercise groups, (c) the importance of considering the setting, and (d) health behavior change intervention programs.