Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 3/2011

01-09-2011

En-Gendering Choice: Preferences for Exercising in Gender-Segregated and Gender-Integrated Groups and Consideration of Overweight Status

Authors: William L. Dunlop, Mark. R. Beauchamp

Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2011

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Understanding the contextual preferences that people have for engaging in a health-enhancing physical activity has been identified as particularly important, as these preferences have been implicated in the maintenance of active lifestyle behaviors.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study was to examine adults’ preferences for exercising in both gender-segregated and gender-integrated physical activity groups. The secondary purpose was to examine whether overweight status moderates adults’ preferences for gender-segregated groups relative to gender-integrated groups.

Method

Survey data were obtained from a representative sample of 772 adults (N males = 407; N females = 365) in a large city in the United Kingdom.

Results

Males and females reported a stronger preference for exercising with members of their own gender relative to exercising in gender-integrated groups. In addition, overweight participants were found to report an accentuated relative preference for gender-segregated groups when compared to normal weight respondents.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that both within-group gender composition and overweight status should be considered as salient contextual factors when attempting to implement successful group-based exercise programs.
Footnotes
1
Data on adults’ preferences to exercise in different age-matched groups were presented in the paper by Beauchamp et al. [7]. None of the data on gender-integrated and gender-segregated preferences that are presented in this paper were included in the paper by Beauchamp et al.
 
Literature
1.
Burke SM, Carron AV, Eys MA. Physical activity context: preferences of university students. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2006;7(1):1–13.CrossRef
2.
Thompson CE, Wankel LM. The effects of perceived activity choice upon frequency of exercise behavior. J Appl Soc Psychol. 2006;10(5):436–43.CrossRef
3.
Daley AJ, Maynard IW. Preferred exercise mode and affective responses in physically active adults. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2003;4(4):347–56.CrossRef
4.
Dishman RK, Farquhar RP, Cureton KJ. Responses to preferred intensities of exertion in men differing in activity levels. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;26(6):783–90.
5.
Parfitt G, Glendhill C. The effect of choice of exercise mode on psychological responses. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2004;5(2):111–7.CrossRef
6.
Beauchamp MR, Carron AV. Exercise preferences and environmental contexts: a response to King and Wilcox. Ann Behav Med. 2008;35(3):370–2.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Beauchamp MR, Carron AV, McCutcheon S, Harper O. Older adults’ preferences for exercising alone versus in groups: considering contextual congruence. Ann Behav Med. 2007;33(2):200–6.PubMedCrossRef
8.
King AC, Wilcox S. Exploring physical activity preferences. Ann Behav Med. 2008;35(1):123–4.PubMed
9.
Burke SM, Carron AV, Eys MA, Ntoumanis N, Estabrooks PA. Group versus individual approach? A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of interventions to promote physical activity. Sport Exerc Psychol Rev. 2006;2(1):19–35.
10.
Carron AV, Hausenblas HA, Mack DE. Social influence and exercise: a meta-analysis. J Sport Exerc Psychol. 1996;18(1):1–16.
11.
Dishman RK, Buckworth J. Increasing physical activity: a quantitative synthesis. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;28(6):706–19.PubMed
12.
Turner JC. Social categorization and the self-concept: a social cognitive theory of group behavior. In: Lawler EJ, editor. Advances in group processes: theory and research, vol. 2. Greenwich: JAI Press; 1985. p. 72–121.
13.
14.
World Health Organization. Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1995.
15.
Pittinsky TL, Shih M, Ambady N. Identity adaptiveness: affect across multiple identities. J Soc Issues. 1999;55(3):503–18.CrossRef
16.
Kerksick C, Thomas A, Taylor L, et al. Effects of popular exercise and weight loss program on weight loss, body composition, energy expenditure and health in obese women. Nutr Metab Lond. 2009;6(23):1743–75.
Metadata
Title
En-Gendering Choice: Preferences for Exercising in Gender-Segregated and Gender-Integrated Groups and Consideration of Overweight Status
Authors
William L. Dunlop
Mark. R. Beauchamp
Publication date
01-09-2011
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2011
Print ISSN: 1070-5503
Electronic ISSN: 1532-7558
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9125-6

Other articles of this Issue 3/2011

International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 3/2011 Go to the issue

EditorialNotes

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Across the Lifespan

OriginalPaper

Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Young People Conducted in the Hours Immediately After School: A Systematic Review

OriginalPaper

Environmental and Psychosocial Correlates of Accelerometer-Assessed and Self-Reported Physical Activity in Belgian Adults

OriginalPaper

Parental Overprotection and Heart-Focused Anxiety in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

OriginalPaper

Time Displacement and Confidence to Participate in Physical Activity

OriginalPaper

Menstrual-Related Attitudes and Symptoms Among Multi-racial Asian Adolescent Females