EXERCISE IN MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS - SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-PRESENTATIONAL OUTCOMES

Background. Whereas self-efficacy expectations have been identified as important determinants of exercise participation patterns, little emp irical work that examines efficacy expectations as outcomes of exercis e participation or their theoretical relationship to other psychologic al outcomes associated with exercise has been conducted. In the contex t of middle-aged males and females, the present study attempted to int egrate social cognitive and impression management perspectives with re spect to anxiety associated with exercise. Methods. Formerly sedentary subjects participated in a B-month exercise program with assessments of physique anxiety, efficacy, outcome expectations, and anthropometri c variables prior to and following the program. Results. Both acute bo uts and long-term participation in exercise resulted in significant in creases in self-efficacy. In turn, these changes in efficacy and initi al positive outcome expectations were significant predictors of reduct ions in physique anxiety, even when controlling for the influence of g ender and reductions in body fat, weight, and circumferences. Conclusi ons. The findings are discussed in terms of the implications for struc ture and content of exercise environments and the utility of the propo sed theoretical integration. Strategies for enhancing beliefs regardin g health and fitness outcomes associated with exercise rather than app earance outcomes may be required to maximize reductions in negative bo dy image. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.