What keeps people from sticking to exercise programs?
People who start exercising hoping to socialize are more likely to stick with it long-term, while those expecting immediate pleasure are more likely to quit.
Source
Motivational and evolutionary aspects of a physical exercise training program: a longitudinal study
What they did
Researchers recruited ninety-four sedentary volunteers for a 1-year training program with three weekly sessions lasting up to 90 minutes. Before starting, participants chose their preferred exercise type and completed questionnaires to assess their baseline motivations and expectations.
What they found
Only 21 participants completed the training, while seventy-three dropped out before the program finished. Higher initial expectations for social interaction predicted a greater chance of completing the program, while high expectations of immediate pleasure predicted a higher rate of quitting.
The limits
What it doesn't show
The study cannot prove that prioritizing socializing causes better exercise adherence, as this was an observational design. Additionally, because all participants volunteered, none of them had extremely low initial motivation, meaning these findings might not apply to people forced to exercise. Finally, the researchers did not track whether the participants actually experienced socialization or pleasure during their sessions.
Key terms
- Self-Determination Theory (SDT)
- A psychological framework explaining how human motivation is driven by the pursuit of innate needs like autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
- Relative Autonomy Index (RAI)
- An overall score derived from questionnaires that indicates the degree to which a person's behavior is self-determined and self-motivated.
- Introjected regulation
- A form of motivation where a person performs an activity due to internal pressures, such as avoiding feelings of guilt or anxiety.
- Amotivation
- A state of lacking any intention or motivation to act, often because one does not see value or expect any positive outcome from the behavior.
Flashcards
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Quiz yourself
What percentage of individuals who begin a physical exercise program typically drop out within the first six months?
Common questions
Why does expecting pleasure from exercise make people more likely to quit?
When people start an exercise routine expecting it to be immediately enjoyable, they are often disappointed by the physical discomfort or effort required. Since physical exercise is not a primary biological reward on its own, this unmet expectation can quickly lead to dropouts.
How does seeking socialization help people stay active?
Human evolutionary history suggests we are adapted to engage in physical activity as a collective or social endeavor rather than an individual task. Socializing fulfills an innate psychological need for connection, transforming exercise from a chore into a meaningful social outlet.
Did the type of exercise the participants chose affect whether they quit?
No. Participants were allowed to choose their preferred style of training (aerobic, strength, or concurrent) to prevent them from dropping out simply because they disliked a specific activity, though the study did not find exercise type to be a significant predictor of completion.
How does age relate to sticking with the exercise program?
The researchers found that participants who successfully completed the program tended to be older on average than those who dropped out, suggesting age-related differences in expectations or lifestyle stability might influence adherence.
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