esterline_honorsthesis

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Kayla Esterline, PA-S An Examination of Feminine Exercise:

Meeting Female Needs at the DiSepio Institute Honors Thesis

May 2014

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the DiSepio Institute Spring 2014 fitness classes.

Specifically, this survey examines the correlation between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations

and the estimated duration of exercise performed by females participating in these classes.

Modern science states that exercise is obviously beneficial to women’s mental and physical

health. However, several societal factors frequently produce negative attitudes towards

exercise, making it quite difficult for women to fulfil l minimum exercise requirements. The

hypothesis for this survey was that there would be a greater correlation between intrinsic

motivations and exercise duration than the correlation between extrinsic motivations and

exercise duration. The data did demonstrate this pattern, but there was not a large enough

difference between the two correlations to deem them significant. The results suggested that

the more reasons a woman cited for exercising, the more likely she would exercise for a longer

duration.

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Until a few years ago, I never thought I would enjoy exercise. I thought push-ups were

torture, running was punishment, and my gym teacher was pure evil. Common sense told me

exercise was good for me, but I still did not see why anyone would willingly s ubject herself to

such pain and humiliation. Now, however, my experiences with exercise have changed my

mind. I have tried a variety exercise programs, from running races, to yoga, to ROTC physical

training. As a physician assistant student and a psychology minor, I know how many different

physical and mental benefits exercise can provide. Surprisingly, I actually enjoy working out

now; it makes me feel just plain good. As I look around campus, though, I still find resistant

attitudes towards exercise. My classmates make offhand jokes that hint that there is no

possibility in the world that they would voluntarily exercise. Others gripe and complain when

they are forced to exercise for a class or sport. All around me, generalized negative attitudes

against exercise persist. This made me wonder, what was it that changed my mind? If I could

pinpoint what motivated me to start enjoying exercise, then could I use that spark to encourage

others to do the same? Once I become a certified physician assistant, I am going to need an

effective strategy in order to motivate my patients to exercise.

When I think back to what initially convinced me to start running, I remember my local

marching band’s first 5K fundraiser. People kept talking about it excitedly. I didn’t run that year,

but the happiness, celebration, and sense of community surrounding the event left quite an

impression on me. I made it my goal to be able to run the 5K by next year. In trying to achieve

that goal, I signed up for a few classes offered at the DiSepio Institute. These classes were

sparsely populated and pronouncedly female. Most of the women who started in the classes

dropped out by the second or third class. This pattern reinforced my impression that finding

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motivation for exercise is a particularly difficult endeavor for females . In order to answer my

questions, I have designed a study that analyzes the motivation, participation, and satisfaction

of the female participants of the DiSepio Institute fitness classes. My experiences suggest that

perhaps the key to enjoying exercise is the enjoyment itself. If an individual can find something

immediately rewarding about it, then she will be more motivated to do it. This simple idea will

form the basis of my hypothesis. I predict that the women acting on intrinsic motivations will

spend a greater amount of time exercising than the women acting on extrinsic motivations .

Intrinsic motivation is defined as “doing . . . an activity for its inherent satisfaction rather than

for some separable consequence” (Ryan and Deci, 2000); in other words, engaging in an activity

out of expectations of enjoyment. For example, a hugely successful corporation called Zumba

Fitness® markets its programs with fun as the core component. Having fun is definitely an

immediately rewarding intrinsic motivation for exercise. Conversely, many females when

complaining cite extrinsic motivations for exercise. Extrinsic motivation is defined as “an activity

[that] is done in order to attain some separable outcome” (Ryan and Deci, 2000), or engaging in

a behavior out of expectation of receiving a reward in the future. The extrinsic reward of weight

loss is one of the most frequent reasons females provide for engaging in exercise. However, it

takes an extraordinary amount of time and persistence to lose weight. The reward of weight

loss probably will not occur until weeks or months after the initial effort, and then only if the

individual manages to remain consistent in their new exercise program. Such a distant reward is

not very conducive to maintaining a motivated attitude for exercise. Hopefully if people can

gain immediate rewards from their fitness classes, they will participate more frequently and

reap more of the benefits of a healthy, fit lifestyle.

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For women in particular, participating in a regular exercise routine is of vital importance

to a long and healthy life. According to the CDC ’s National Vital Statistics Report, heart disease

is the number one cause of death for women, causing 290,305 deaths or 23.5% of all female

mortality in the United States annually (Heron, 2013). Essential hypertension, one of the biggest

risk factors for disastrous cardiac events, can also be prevented or partially treated with

exercise. The JNC 7 Express, a guide summarizing the basics of blood pressure maintenance,

reports that engaging in regular aerobic physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day for most

days of the week can lower blood pressure 4-9 mmHg. If an overweight patient can use

exercise to bring her weight back to a normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m^2), then that can lower

blood pressure a significant 5-20 mmHg per 10 kg of weight loss. That is a greater potential

reduction than any other of the recommended lifestyle modifications for hypertension

(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2003). Hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, is

another health condition that both contributes to heart disease and can be controlled by

exercise and weight loss. Exercise lowers several types of “bad” cholesterol, including total

cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and especially triglycerides. HDL cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol,

is actually increased by exercise. The ATP III Report states that if an individual can raise HDL

cholesterol to 60 mg/dL or above, then she can subtract one of the risk factors for cardiac

events (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2002). Exercise is an essential contributor to a

healthy female heart.

Whether it is because of thorough patient education or excessive media attention, most

females seem to focus on the effect exercise has on weight. Being overweight (BMI > or equal

to 25 kg/m^2) or obese (BMI > or equal to 30 kg/m^2) can exacerbate a host of health

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problems, including the previously mentioned coronary heart disease, hypertension, and

dyslipidemia. Obesity can also trigger the development of type 2 diabetes, liver and gallbladder

disease, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and gynecological problems. Women who are

obese are also at an increased risk for potentially fatal events such as cerebrovascular accidents

and cancer of the endometrium, breast, or colon (National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute,

1998). Exercise has long been utilized as a tool to keep weight in check and avoid these major

health risks.

The skeletal system in particular is greatly affected by physical activity. If a woman is

overweight, this increases the stress on her joints, putting her at increased risk for the

development of painful osteoarthritis (National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, 1998). In

addition, once a woman begins menopause, a drop in estrogen levels allows calcium to leech

from bones, making them extremely prone to fractures in a process is called osteoporosis

(PubMedHealth, 2012). Pathologic fractures resulting from osteoporosis have an enormous

impact on a woman’s life. A broken hip can mark the end of a woman’s ability to live

independently and perform basic activities of living (Loue, Sajatovic, & Armitage, 2004).

However, weight-bearing exercises make the “skeletal muscle pull[s] against the bone, causing

it to rebuild and become denser” (PubMedHealth, 2012). A woman can help manage or even

prevent all of these problems if she begins and maintains an exercise habit early on in life.

In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, women can also enjoy the substantial

mental benefits. Getting in a good workout can increase mental alertness, improve sleep

quality, and lead to a more positive mood. Women are about twice as likely as men to

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experience symptoms of mental illnesses like anxiety or depression (Loue, Sajatovic, &

Armitage, 2004). Women who experience depressive symptoms tend to have more barriers to

performing physical activity. They are often influenced by negative experiences with physical

activity in their youth or friends’ and family’s inactivity. These women have a lower self- efficacy

for exercise. For them, physical activity tends to be more of a spontaneous event rather than a

regular, planned activity (Azar, Ball, Salmon, & Cleland, 2010). Ironically, this group of women

needs an exercise routine the most. It is a powerful tool for dealing with stress and sadness.

The endorphin release that results from exercise is comparable to the effects of an anti -

depressant medication (Loue, Sajatovic, & Armitage, 2004). One Japanese study measured the

effects of an exercise routine on a group of adolescent females with depressive symptoms,

finding that the exercise helped to alleviate their symptoms. Lower urine levels of cortisol and

epinephrine suggested that the exercise was reducing their hormonal response to stress. In

addition, exercise increased their physiological fitness by reducing their resting heart rate and

increasing their peak oxygen uptake and lung capacity (Nabkasorn, et al., 2005). Exercise is

sometimes referred to as “nature’s antidepressant” for these reasons. It is an easily accessible

tool with which women can optimize their mental health.

Unfortunately, the female sex has often been ushered away from physical activity.

During most of the 20th century, women were considered inferior to men both emotionally and

physically. The pervading idea was that women could not handle the “competitive” atmosphere

that surrounded most sports and the physical demands of said sports. In addition, physical

activity was often viewed as a threat to women’s reproductive safety. Girls were told to sit on

the sidelines while they were menstruating. Special rules were created for certain sports that

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limited how much females could move around, all in the name of preventing “overexertion” or

a “dislodged” uterus. Rumors flew around that sports could make women sterile. It took

decades for people to start attributing female lack of athletic ability to unequal access rather

than an inherent weakness in their bodies. Only in 1972 were females given equal federal

funding for high school and collegiate sport participation by Title IX (Verbrugge, 2002).

However, this progress has still not quieted the worries that physically active women are at risk

for infertility.

Even in our current state of science, erroneous beliefs about the effects of exercise still

exist. In 1992, the identification of the “female athlete triad” consisting of “eating disorders,

premature osteoporosis and amenorrhea” triggered another wave of panic about women’s

reproductive health (Verbrugge, 2002). This suggested to some people that exercise could

cause the very problems it actually prevents. Others are becoming concerned about the

growing number of joint injuries in women resulting from increased participation in women’s

sports. The injuries make it falsely appear that exercise disproportionately harms women,

despite similar injuries occurring in men’s sports (Verbrugge, 2002). Still others are worried

about the potential for damage to females’ self-esteem. In a study published by The Journal of

Psychology in 2002, a positive relationship was found between self-esteem and body image,

particularly for the female participants. The females created a connection between body

dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. While the study could not point to causation in either

direction, the results could suggest that “exercising for weight control, attractiveness, and tone

would be associated with disordered eating and low self-esteem, whereas exercising for mood,

health, enjoyment, and fitness would not be related to disordered eating and would instead be

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related to high self-esteem…” (Furnham, Badmin, & Sneade, 2002). If this study is valid, females

relying on the extrinsic motivator of improved appearance will have difficulty maintaining a

positive body image and self-esteem as they wait on the results of their exercise routine. This

brings up concerns over psychiatric disorders related to body image, such as eating disorders. It

appears excessive exercising is one of the inappropriate compensatory behaviors often utilized

by sufferers of anorexia or bulimia nervosa in order to fix whatever perceived mistake they

have made regarding their weight. All the while, anorexics are completely convinced they do

not have a problem despite the fact that their severely low BMIs are putting their lives at risk

(Academy for Eating Disorders, 2014). While these concerns vary in their legitimacy, they show

how prevalent concerns are about the negative impact of exercise for females.

In my experience, I have heard much negativity about exercise from female students at

SFU. One objected, “who actually likes exercise?” By that point in my life, I did enjoy exercise,

but I did not speak up because everyone around her was agreeing with her statement. When I

began a running routine for the first time, my own mother asked me, “doesn’t running hurt

your knees?” Admittedly, I am guilty of letting some challenges prevent me from exercising; I

am not yet confident enough to go back to the weight section of DiSepio and figure out how to

use the machines, because I’m intimidated by the group of large, burly boys that always seem

to hang out back there. I’ve also frequently heard my peers refer to exercise only as a weight

loss tool. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard, “I just want to lose my tummy (love

handles, thighs, etc).” Even Regina George, the queen bee in the popular, often-quoted movie

Mean Girls, is known for saying, “I really want to lose three pounds” (Waters, 2004). On the

opposite end of the spectrum, I’ve heard girls say they are afraid of exercising too much. They

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perform easy workouts and choose lighter weights because they don’t want to end up looking

“bulkly, manly” or “butch.” However, the masculine outcome they fear is not possible. Barring

the use of illegal anabolic steroids, it is highly unlikely that women will ever put on a great deal

of muscle due to their lower levels of testosterone (Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2014).

These attitudes irritate me at times because my peers fail to realize that exercise is so much

more than just a torturous way to keep up appearances.

In order to overcome the misconception that work against a woman’s desire to exercise,

much scientific and marketing research has been performed to identify the factors that

motivate a woman to commit to an exercise routine. One such study conducted a series of

interviews of the members of a gym designed exclusively for women. Most, but not all, of the

gym members were middle-aged, married white women. After analyzing the interviews with

these women, the researchers determined that an “organizational culture of nonjudgmental

and noncompetitive sociability” was the best atmosphere for encouraging women to exercise

(Craig & Liberti, 2007). The gym had a “power geometry” setup that encouraged the women to

socialize together while using the machines. In most gyms, equipment is set up in straight lines

that do not allow for much social interaction. There were timed prompts to switch equipment,

which allowed the women to switch machines without requiring an uncomfortable

confrontation. The “childish” décor and the friendly, sociable staff in the gym also created a

relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. It is important to note that while these features allowed the

women to exercise without feeling pressured or judged, the majority of the women still did not

find the exercise itself enjoyable. They exercised out of necessity rather than desire, so these

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gym modifications only made it more comfortable for them to exercise, but did not add intrinsic

motivation (Craig & Liberti, 2007).

The fitness industry, for better or worse, tries its best to exploit the desires and

motivations that women have when they exercise. Take, for example, the home fitness

program giant, Beachbody®. This company markets a wide variety of fitness programs tailored

to different customer motivations. On an advertisement for the Brazil Butt Lift® workout, a thin,

tanned model in a skimpy bikini enjoys the sun on a gorgeous blue beach. The ad claims their

DVD will “shape your perfect summer booty” (Beachbody, 2014). Then there is the feminized

tagline for a Hip Hop Abs® DVD: “dance your way to hot, sexy abs.” These advertisements focus

on the appearance and sexualization of women’s bodies. They seem very different when

compared to other programs such as Insanity: The Asylum®, Body Beast®, or P90X®. Most of the

ads for these aggressively-named programs display decolorized muscular models on a black

background with large, square lettering. They emphasize strength, power, and masculinity.

While these programs are designed for the opposite genders, they were produced by the same

company. This company’s goal might not necessarily be to get their customers to stick with

their programs. If customers do complete their chosen program, then Beachbody® has another

success story to advertise their products with and a satisfied customer who might return to buy

more products. If they don’t complete the program, then the customer has already shelled out

the money to buy that product and might return to buy a different product. By playing off both

gender stereotypes, Beachbody® manages to sell thousands of products every year.

Other forms of exercise appear less gendered, but still are geared towards female

motivations for exercise. As I mentioned before, Zumba Fitness® really pushes fun as its main

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motivator, notable in the slogan, “Ditch the workout, join the party!” It’s another example of

reaching out to women that just don’t like exercise. Another “fun” motto demonstrates the

female-dominant desire to lose weight: “SHAKE SHAKE SHRINK: the most fun and effective

workout, ever.” Zumba tries to reach as many audiences as possible with 11 classes geared

towards anything a woman could ever want: pool Zumba; chair Zumba; low-impact Zumba;

Zumba for cardio, toning, seniors, children, and even infants (Zumba Fitness, 2014). Another

interesting marketing technique that Zumba uses is branding its logo on all of their

merchandise. Branding encourages the business of female customers that enjoy shopping,

wearing “trendy” outfits, and using fancy equipment. This branding also applies to the classes

themselves: instructors must pay the company for their training, music, and anything else they

want to use in their Zumba classes (Zumba Fitness 2014). This branding ensures that the

company can build a reputation and control marketing. One more interesting fact: Zumba was

invented by a male, not a female. Uniquely female motivations for exercise are so well-known

that a member of the opposite sex can readily create a fitness empire from them.

Another type of exercise typically associated with females is yoga. As yoga is practiced in

the West, a series of poses are usually performed under the guidance of an instructor. These

poses are often timed with the person’s breath, and require skills such as balance, flexibility,

and strength. In addition to physical well-being, yoga also emphasizes mental and spiritual well-

being (NCCAM, 2014). An entire lifestyle is associated with yoga. Some women follow it by

buying special yoga clothes and mats; more dedicated followers extend the practice into other

aspects of their lives by practicing meditation, eating vegetarian, or using holistic medicine.

When I took a yoga class at the DiSepio Institute in the summer of 2013, my instructor talked to

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me about Ayurveda medicine, a form of alternative medicine that originated in India and is

often incorporated into the yogic lifestyle. This branch of medicine identifies three doshas, or

physical constitutions: vata, pitta, and kapha (air, fire, and water, respectively). Each type must

be kept “in balance” by following certain lifestyles and diets. This focus on alternative medicine

could be why yoga is so popular with women. Yoga has often been used as an effective lifestyle

tool to maintain psychological health, a particular concern of women’s health.

In order to specifically examine women’s exercise habits at the DiSepio Institute, I

needed to first establish that those women were affected by the psychosocial factors discussed

previously. I established this by comparing the differences between male and female exercise

within the DiSepio Fitness Center. Over the course of 5 days, with one random hour of

observation daily, I recorded the number of male and female users of each section of the

workout room every 10 minutes. I divided the workout room into its four sections: cardio,

strength, weights, and stretching. The data I collected is summarized in the chart and pie graphs

below:

Stretch Cardio Strength Weights Females 26 179 26 5

Males 11 54 54 100 Percentage of

Female use

70.3% 76.8% 32.5% 4.8%

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As you can see, the overwhelming majority of females used the cardio machines, while

most of the males used weights. A possible explanation for this observation could be that

cardio is often touted as a wonderful way to burn calories and lose weight, while weights are a

good means to build muscle, strength, and gain weight. The males were also more evenly

distributed among strength and cardio sections. A measly 2% of females touched the weights,

even though they were recently moved to the front of the room to encourage more people to

use them. Clearly, a difference between male and female habits of exercise is present among

the exercisers at the DiSepio Institute.

My next step was to acquaint myself with some of the classes offered by the DiSepio

Institute. First, I attended a Core Conditioning class. It was only attended by me, the teacher,

and another older community member. The female teacher led us through a series of timed,

core-focused exercises at a relatively slow pace. It was easy to follow and effective. Next, I

attended a class called High-Intensity Conditioning. This was more fast-paced and a little harder

to keep track of, and it was taught by a male. I and a half-dozen other students rotated through

Stretch11%

Cardio76%

Strength11%

Weights2%

Female Equipment UseStretch

5%

Cardio24%

Strength25%

Weights46%

Male Equipment Use

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several timed stations. On the other side of the spectrum, I also attended the Beginner’s Yoga

class that I mentioned previously. The poses were extremely gentle, to the point where I did

not feel like I was getting a workout. However, physical fitness was not the main goal of the

class; the instructor also had us perform several breathing and meditation exercises. She had us

practice self-awareness by “centering” ourselves in the present moment. The last class I

attended was a Zumba class. This class was packed with young women trying to keep up with

the difficult cardio. The female instructor was very enthusiastic, though, and made the class fun

for everyone. This semester, the classes hosted by the DiSepio Institute are as varied as ever.

They incorporate many different types of exercise and utilize many different pieces of

equipment. The list of class titles include: Express Circuit, FULL- Strength and Cardio Circuit,

Kettlebells, Jazz Funk, Work'n it Circuits, Total Body Toning, Max Interval Circuit, Cardio Sculpt,

High Intensity Circuit, Turbokick®, Burnit Circuit, Ballistic, Insanity®, Zumba®, SilverSneakers

Classic, and SilverSneakers Circuit (Saint Francis University, 2014).

After getting to know some of the classes, I was ready to design my survey. First, I asked

the participants to identify the class they were participating in. Next, I divided them into

categories based on their role in Saint Francis University: SFU student, SFU employee, or

community member. I next wanted to evaluate whether or not these participants were getting

the recommended amount of exercise weekly. The CDC recommends participating in 2.5 hours

of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week at minimum and 5 hours of moderate-intensity

aerobic activity per week for older adults (CDC, 2014). Based on these recommendations, I

created a scale for my survey participants have them estimate their duration of weekly

exercise. The scale listed 0-1 hours, 1-2 hours, 2-3 hours (the minimum amount of

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recommended exercise), 3-4 hours, and 4-5 hours or greater. Next, I listed twelve intrinsic and

extrinsic motivations for exercise and asked participants to check off the reasons they attended

the class. The intrinsic motivations included enjoyment, confidence, stress management,

socialization, personal challenge, and fitness. The extrinsic motivations included weight

management, muscle gain, appearance, competition, health, and social recognition. I based this

list off of a similar study that compared college students’ motivations for exercise versus their

motivations for sport participation. The study found that more students reported “intrinsic

motives, such as enjoyment and challenge, for engaging in sport, whereas motivations for

exercise were more extrinsic and focused on appearance and weight...” (Kilpatrick, Herbert, &

Bartholomew, 2005). My study will be comparing the motivations for exercise to the duration

of exercise participation instead. I predict that participants with a greater count of reported

intrinsic motivations will select greater estimations of weekly exercise than those that report

more extrinsic motivations. In the next section of the survey, I created a Likert scale for the

participants to rate how well their class was performing. I had them rate each of the intrinsic

and extrinsic motivations that I had previously listed in the survey, which will allow me to

evaluate how well the classes are meeting the most popular needs of their participants. In

order to obtain some more individualized information, I also left a space at the bottom of the

survey for the participants to share any additional comments about the classes. The survey is

appended to this paper.

The survey was then distributed to all of the female participants of the DiSepio Institute

exercise classes between March 10-19, 2014. For my first portion of data analysis, I needed to

ensure that the participants were getting the minimum amount of recommended exercise as I

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discussed above. I originally had a fourth category of “other” in my survey. I decided to drop

their results from the weekly exercise testing due to the fact that this most likely represented

people who belonged to more than one group. These people might have busier schedules than

the other participants; therefore, they probably have less time to exercise. If that was the case,

then they could possibly skew the data. I also dropped a participant that did not completely fill

out their survey, as it would be too difficult to compare her survey to the other completed

surveys. For my statistical analysis of estimated weekly exercise among the survey participants,

I modified my scale to a 1 to 5 scale rather than a list of ranges for greater ease of analysis. I

used a single-sample T-test on weekly exercise to compare my current sample’s duration of

exercise to the expert recommendations. I considered the rating of 3, representing the 2-3

hours per week range, as my test value.

t df Sig. (2-

tailed)

Mean

Difference

95% Lower

Confidence Interval

95% Upper

Confidence Interval Weekly

Exercise

2.319 45 0.025 0.391 0.05 0.73

Observed t(45) = 2.319 P = 0.025 Mean = 3.39 > Test Value = 3

According to my single-sample t-test, the average duration of exercise among the participants

was greater than the expert recommendations. Because the P value was less than 0.5, these

results can be considered significant, and it can be stated with confidence that the participants

do get enough exercise to remain healthy in the eyes of the CDC.

For the next portion of the data analysis, I wanted to compare the exercise habits of the

three categories of participants, as displayed in the following chart:

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Categories N Mean Standard Deviation

SFU Students 16 3.69 1.078 SFU Employees 18 3.44 1.247

Community Members 12 2.92 0.996 Total 46 3.39 1.145

Test of Homogeneity of Variances P = 0.246

One-way ANOVA Observed F(2, 43) = 1.631 P = 0.208

For both the test of homogeneity of variances and the one-way ANOVA, P was greater than

0.05. This indicates that there was not a significant difference between the three groups; in

fact, there were equal variances. The mean duration of exercise was greater than 3 for both the

student and the employee group. The mean was only slightly less than 3 for the community

member group, but again, the data were not significant enough to state that they do not

participate in the recommended weekly duration of exercise. This could have been because it

was the smallest group and would most likely be affected by outliers. It could also be because

many of the community members attend the SilverSneakers programs. This would suggest that

they are seniors and are therefore at a greater risk of having medical conditions that limit their

ability to exercise.

Finally, it is time to analyze my results that test the accuracy of my hypothesis. The table

below describes the correlations between the participant’s estimation of weekly exercise and

their intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. All of the correlations were positive, meaning that

when one value increases, so does the other value. However, only the exercise vs. intrinsic

motivation and intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivations were significant. The P value for exercise vs.

extrinsic motivation was 0.060, which is not statistically significant, but still small enough to be

considered a trend.

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Weekly Exercise

Intrinsic Motivations

Extrinsic Motivations

Weekly Exercise Pearson

Correlation

1 0.309 0.280

Weekly Exercise Sig. (2-tailed) 0.037 0.060

Intrinsic

Motivations

Pearson

Correlation

0.309 1 0.310

Intrinsic

Motivations

Sig. (2-tailed) 0.037 0.036

Exercise vs. Intrinsic Motivation r(44) = +0.309 P = 0.037 Significant

Exercise vs. Extrinsic Motivation r(44) = + 0.280 P = 0.060 Trend/Not Significant

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic r(44) = + 0.310 P = 0.036 Significant

As the number of reported intrinsic motivations increased, so did the amount of

estimated weekly exercise. The number of extrinsic motivations also increased with the amount

of estimated weekly exercise, but not as much so as the intrinsic motivations demonstrated.

This portion of my results supports my hypothesis. However, my analysis also found another

significant positive relationship: the more intrinsic motivations that were reported, the more

extrinsic motivations that were reported as well. Essentially, the more reasons a participant had

for exercising, the more likely she was to exercise. Therefore, my hypothesis is only partially

supported.

Even though the type of motivation does not seem to matter among this sample, it is

still important to find out if the participants are satisfied with and comfortable in their class

environment. The most popular selected motivations for exercise were fitness, health, weight

management, and enjoyment, respectively. I tallied 75 votes for intrinsic motivations and 77

votes went towards an extrinsic motivation, making them almost equally popular. Enjoyment

had a mean response of 4.30, fitness had a mean of 4.48, health had a mean of 4.54, and

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weight had a mean of 4.41. In the open-ended comments section, the overwhelming majority

of opinions about the classes were positive. Phrases like “love the class!” and “great

class/teacher/workout” cropped up often. One participant said she was “thankful for the

variety of classes” that were available. In addition to clearly enjoying their classes, several

participants talked about how their own motivations to exercise were increased by the classes.

Some pointed towards the teachers as great sources of motivation and encouragement.

Another participant said that the group itself “challenge(d) me more than I would challenge

myself exercising on my own” Overall, these high ratings and consistent praise for these classes

demonstrate that the DiSepio Institute classes are effectively providing the most popular

rewards for exercise.

In order to improve future similar studies, the flaws in the current study must be

identified. Several flaws could have affected the participants’ estimated duration of weekly

exercise. It was an estimated value, so there was every possibility that they were incorrect.

Maybe a woman was just guessing about the time she usually exercises but really had no idea

of the true time. Or a woman could also be dishonest and claim she exercises more than she

actually does. The way the information was presented could have been confusing. Times were

presented as ranges instead of specific numbers, so there is no way to know exactly how much

women exercised per week. A better way of recording that information might be to have the

participants track their exercise time or use some kind of technology, such as a heart monitor,

to quantify their amount of exercise. Another possible problem could explain my strange

results: my study participants might have been a biased sample. Because they were already

participating in the classes and experiencing the benefits of exercise firsthand, they probably

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knew more about both the short-term and long-term benefits. A possible way of eliminating

this problem might be to distribute the survey prior to the start of the class or categorize the

survey participants by their amount of previous experience with exercise.

Because of the unexpected results of my study, I hope that future research might

investigate the causes behind my correlations. In this case, the more reasons a person stated

for exercise, the more likely she was to exercise for a longer period of time. Possibly, this could

mean that education about the benefits of exercise can lead to greater amounts of exercise,

regardless of whether women fulfill intrinsic or extrinsic motivations. I wonder if there would

be a difference between a simple informative learning setting (i.e., a lecture or presentation

format) or if an active learning setting would be more beneficial. Although this study was

conducted only on female participants, it would be interesting to conduct an identical study on

a group of males and then compare the two. Since males are often motivated by different

reasons to exercise, would they show the same positive correlation as females for both intrinsic

and extrinsic motivations? Males may find it easier to exercise than women, and my study

might be able to find the explanation and apply that information to encourage female exercise.

Finding the answers to these questions could help discover the key to motivate people

that have difficulty getting themselves to exercise. If we can create a program that exposes

people to all of the benefits of exercise early on, then perhaps we could turn exercise into an

intrinsic motivation itself. I had never had an experience with exercise that made me happy

before that first 5K race. I, like so many others of my sex, did not know how good exercise could

make me feel. By making exercise rewarding, we can instill a desire for exercise in others that

will serve as a vital component of health maintenance. In my future career as a physician

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assistant, learning to teach patients how to enjoy exercise will lead to far happier and healthier

patients. Thankfully, the DiSepio Institute understands how to create positive exercise

experiences that encourage females to maintain consistent, healthy habits.

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DiSepio Institute Exercise Class Female Participant Survey Honors Thesis Spring 2014

An Examination of Feminine Exercise: Meeting Female Needs at the DiSepio Institute

Kayla Esterline, PA-S

The purpose of this research project is to assess how well the needs of women are being met by the exercise programs offered at the DiSepio Institute. This is a research project being

conducted by myself, Kayla Esterline, as a part of my honors thesis at Saint Francis University. You are invited to participate in this research project because you are a female participant in one or more of these exercise classes during the Spring 2014 school semester.

Your participation in this research study is voluntary. You may choose not to participate. If you

decide to participate in this research survey, you may withdraw at any time. If you decide not to participate in this study or if you withdraw from participating at any time, you will not be penalized.

The procedure involves filling a paper (or online) survey that will take approximately 10 minutes. Your responses will be anonymous. The survey questions will be about your

expectations, your attitude towards exercise, and the results of your experiences with these fitness classes. The results of this study will be used for scholarly purposes only and may be shared with Saint Francis University staff and students.

If you have any questions about the research study, please contact me at [email protected] research has been reviewed according to Saint Francis University’s IRB procedures for research involving human subjects.

By completing this survey, you are giving your voluntary consent to participate in this study.

mailto:[email protected]

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Please list the name(s) of the DiSepio Institute exercise class(es) you attend:

Please circle a letter to complete the statement: I am a(n)…

a. SFU student c. Community member

b. SFU employee d. Other Please check off the option that best describes your average weekly amount of aerobic

activity:

___ 0-1 hours ___ 1-2 hours ___ 2-3 hours ___ 3-4 hours ___ 4-5 hours or more Please check off ALL of the reasons that apply to why you chose to attend this exercise class: ___ Enjoyment ___ Weight management ___ Confidence ___ Muscle gain ___ Stress management ___ Appearance ___ Socialization ___Competition

___ Personal challenge ___ Health

___ Fitness ___ Social recognition

For the following phrases, please respond with a number between 1 through 5:

1. I am satisfied with this class.

1- Strongly disagree 2- Disagree 3- Undecided/neutral 4- Agree 5- Strongly agree

2. While taking this class, I am exercising more frequently or intensely than what is normal for me.


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3. I dislike the physical act of exercising.


4. I have a positive body image.


5. I have high self-esteem.


6. I feel more comfortable exercising with all females rather than in a coed setting.


Using the same 1-5 scale as above, please rate your experiences with this class. This class helps me to…

Gain enjoyment. 1 2 3 4 5

Gain confidence. 1 2 3 4 5

Manage my stress. 1 2 3 4 5

Socialize. 1 2 3 4 5

Challenge myself. 1 2 3 4 5

Reach my fitness goals 1 2 3 4 5 (strength, agility, endurance, etc.)

Compete with others. 1 2 3 4 5 Gain social recognition. 1 2 3 4 5

Improve my health. 1 2 3 4 5

Gain muscle. 1 2 3 4 5

Improve my appearance. 1 2 3 4 5

Manage my weight. 1 2 3 4 5

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Please add any additional comments you have about this class here:

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