Motivation
What keeps people from sticking to exercise programs?
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
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.
Key findings
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.
Methodology
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.
Limitations
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.
How this study connects
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