Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
06:13
Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults
Published on: December 1, 2023
Exercisers' identities and exercise dependence: the mediating effect of exercise commitment
Frank Jing-Horng Lu1, Eva Ya-Wen Hsu, Junn-Ming Wang
1National Taiwan Sport University.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|December 26, 2012
Summary
Exercise commitment, driven by obligation ("have to"), partially explains why strong exercise identity can lead to exercise dependence. This finding is crucial for exercise professionals and program managers.
Area of Science:
- Sport Psychology
- Exercise Science
- Behavioral Psychology
Background:
- Understanding the psychological factors that contribute to exercise dependence is crucial for promoting healthy exercise behaviors.
- Exercise identity and exercise commitment are recognized as significant psychological constructs in exercise behavior research.
- The interplay between these factors, particularly the mediating role of commitment, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between exercise identity, exercise commitment, and exercise dependence.
- To specifically examine the mediating effect of exercise commitment on the relationship between exercise identity and exercise dependence.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 253 regular exercisers in Taiwan.
- Utilized validated scales: Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised, Exercise Identity Scale, Exercise Commitment Scale, and Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire.
- Employed structural equation modeling to analyze the proposed relationships.
Main Results:
- Significant moderate to high correlations were found between exercise identity, exercise dependence, and both types of exercise commitment.
- Structural equation modeling confirmed that a "have to" commitment partially mediated the link between exercise identity and exercise dependence.
- The "enjoy" commitment did not show a significant mediating effect.
Conclusions:
- A "have to" exercise commitment plays a partial mediating role in the development of exercise dependence among individuals with a strong exercise identity.
- Findings highlight the importance of fostering intrinsic motivation over obligatory exercise to prevent potential exercise dependence.
- Results offer practical insights for exercise instructors and program managers in designing interventions and managing exercise programs.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:26Exercise Stress Test
Introduction
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
00:52Social Proof
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
01:29Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...