SOCIAL PHYSIQUE ANXIETY, REASONS FOR EXERCISE, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD EXERCISE SETTINGS

Hart, Leary, and Rejeski (1989) hypothesized that social physique anxi ety (SPA), self-presentational anxiety associated with the physique, m ay deter some people from participating in fitness programs. This cont ention was explored in the present investigation. Data were collected from 104 undergraduate females regarding SPA, weight satisfaction, bod y satisfaction, and reasons for exercise. Following each of two video presentations of aerobics classes as stimulus materials, attitudes tow ard the favorability of the exercise settings were assessed. One class wore attire emphasizing the physique; the other appeared in shorts an d T-shirts, deemphasizing the physique. Multiple regression analyses r evealed SPA was associated with favorability of attitudes toward both exercise settings. SPA was negatively associated with favorability of the setting emphasizing the physique and was positively related to fav orability of the setting de-emphasizing the physique. The results indi cate that self-presentational, theoretical perspectives may be useful in understanding exercise behavior patterns.