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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2/2012

01-10-2012 | Original Article

Aerobic Exercise Is Promoted when Individual Performance Affects the Group: A Test of the Kohler Motivation Gain Effect

Authors: Brandon C. Irwin, Ph.D., Jennifer Scorniaenchi, M.S., Norbert L. Kerr, Ph.D., Joey C. Eisenmann, Ph.D., Deborah L. Feltz, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2012

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Abstract

Background

A key barrier to achieving recommended intensity and duration of physical activity is motivation.

Purpose

We investigated whether a virtually present partner would influence participants’ motivation (duration) during aerobic exercise.

Method

Fifty-eight females (M age = 20.54 ± 1.86) were randomly assigned to either a coactive condition (exercising alongside another person, independently), a conjunctive condition (performance determined by whichever partner stops exercising first) where they exercised with a superior partner, or to an individual condition. Participants exercised on a stationary bike at 65 % of heart rate reserve on six separate days.

Results

Across sessions, conjunctive condition participants exercised significantly longer (M = 21.89 min, SD = ±10.08 min) than those in coactive (M = 19.77 min, SD = ± 9.00 min) and individual (M = 10.6 min, SD = ±5.84 min) conditions (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Exercising with a virtually present partner can improve performance on an aerobic exercise task across multiple sessions.
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Metadata
Title
Aerobic Exercise Is Promoted when Individual Performance Affects the Group: A Test of the Kohler Motivation Gain Effect
Authors
Brandon C. Irwin, Ph.D.
Jennifer Scorniaenchi, M.S.
Norbert L. Kerr, Ph.D.
Joey C. Eisenmann, Ph.D.
Deborah L. Feltz, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-10-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9367-4

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