PREDICTING EXERCISE ADHERENCE IN WOMEN - THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS

Background. A large percentage of the normal population does not adher e to a regular exercise program. Little is known about the factors tha t predict exercise initiation or adherence. This study provides data o n the role of psychological, physical, and biological factors in exerc ise adherence among women. Methods. Twenty-three women participated in a free aerobics program in which they could attend as many exercise s essions as they chose. Psychological and physical measures as well as serum beta-endorphin levels pre- and post-exercise were taken and used to predict total number of exercise sessions attended. Results. Endor phin levels did not change as a function of exercise and did not predi ct the number of sessions attended. Rather, women who were overweight, shorter, had several physical complaints, and felt somewhat anxious w ere most likely to attend the exercise sessions, and these variables a ccounted for 73% of the variance in sessions attended. Conclusions. Be cause psychological and physical discomfort predicted exercise adheren ce, these results suggest that emphasizing the immediate symptom-relie f benefits of exercise might increase initiation and adherence in the general population. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.