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Changes in social physique anxiety during 16-week physical activity courses
Rodney G Bowden1, Dawnella M Rust, Sarah Dunsmore
1Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, P.O. Box 97313, Baylor University, One Bear Place, Waco, TX 76798-7313, USA. Rodney_Bowden@baylor.edu
Psychological Reports
|July 30, 2005
Summary
Social physique anxiety, a fear of body image during exercise, was studied in 315 undergraduates. Fitness courses were linked to higher anxiety, which improved over 16 weeks and varied by sex.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Exercise Science
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Social physique anxiety (SPA) involves apprehension about body image during physical activity.
- Understanding SPA is crucial for designing effective exercise interventions.
- Previous research has explored SPA, but its relationship with specific course types and longitudinal changes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between social physique anxiety and the selection of different physical activity courses.
- To assess changes in social physique anxiety over a 16-week physical activity intervention.
- To investigate potential sex differences in social physique anxiety within an undergraduate population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 315 undergraduate students (217 women, 98 men) participated.
- Participants were enrolled in either physical activity courses or an emergency care course.
- Social physique anxiety levels were measured at baseline and at 8 and 16 weeks.
Main Results:
- Students enrolled in a fitness course reported higher social physique anxiety scores compared to those in an emergency care course.
- Social physique anxiety scores demonstrated significant improvement between the 8-week and 16-week assessments.
- Statistically significant differences in social physique anxiety were observed between male and female participants.
Conclusions:
- The type of physical activity course may influence levels of social physique anxiety.
- A 16-week physical activity program can lead to a reduction in social physique anxiety.
- Sex is a relevant factor in understanding social physique anxiety in undergraduate students.