Social Influence and Exercise: A Meta-Analysis
in Journal of Sport and Exercise PsychologyClick name to view affiliation
Using meta-analysis, the impact of a number of manifestations of social influence (important others, family, class leaders, coexercisers, social cohesion, and task cohesion) on exercise behaviors (adherence and compliance), cognitions (intentions and efficacy), and affect (satisfaction and attitude) was examined. The results showed that social influence generally has a small to moderate positive effect (i.e., effect size [ES] from .20 to .50). However, four moderate to large effect sizes (i.e., ES from .50 to .80) were found: family support and attitudes about exercise, task cohesion and adherence behavior, important others and attitudes about exercise, and family support and compliance behavior.
Albert V. Carron, Heather Hausenblas, and Diane Mack are with the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario, London, ON Canada N6A 3K7.
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