THE ROLE OF DOMAIN AND GENDER-SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF SOCIAL-RELATIONSIN ADHERENCE TO A PRESCRIBED EXERCISE REGIMEN

The present study investigated the role of domain-specific combination s of social support provisions in adherence to a prescribed exercise r egimen. Research participants were middle-aged, sedentary, males and f emales (N = 85). Separate discriminant function analyses for males and females revealed that among females, the social provisions of guidanc e and reassurance of worth significantly discriminated adherers and no nadherers. The two provisions of social integration and guidance signi ficantly discriminated adherers and nonadherers among males. Results a re discussed with reference to the importance of social provisions in exercise settings, male and female differences, and the implications o f social support interventions for enhancing exercise compliance.