Self‐Presentation in Exercise Contexts: Differences Between High and Low Frequency Exercisers

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between cognitive manifestations of self‐presentation (social physique anxiety, self‐presentational efficacy, impression motivation, and exercise imagery) and exercise behavior in 235 female exercisers. Each participant completed the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, a measure of self‐presentational efficacy, the impression motivation subscale of the Self‐Presentation in Exercise Questionnaire, and the Exercise Imagery Questionnaire. The results of a MANCOVA indicated high‐frequency exercisers reported higher levels of efficacy expectancy, outcome value, and exercise imagery than did low‐frequency exercisers. Semi‐partial correlations showed efficacy expectancy, outcome expectancy, and appearance imagery each accounted for significant variance in social physique anxiety, independent of other predictors. Self‐presentational efficacy expectancy appears to be a potent variable in both exercise behavior and social physique anxiety.