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Dissertation
College Students' Motivations To Attend Group Fitness Classes
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2015
Abstract
The primary purpose of this study was to assess students' various motivations to select from a comprehensive range of group fitness class offerings at a university. A secondary purpose was to compare the self-report of group fitness class (GFC) attendance with a sign-in sheet measure collected over three months. After a pilot study to refine data collection measures and procedures, 281 questionnaires were returned from participants in 30 different group fitness classes over the second week of the Spring 2014 semester at the University of West Florida's Recreation and Sports Services Department. Students favored yoga, zumba, cycle, and spinnerval as their primary GFC. While yoga was the most popular GFC, it also had the highest dropout rate. Females, sophomores, on-campus residents, and students over 25 were overrepresented. The representation of race and age varied between GFCs. Half of students had experience with GFCs before coming to the University of West Florida. Almost a third of students attended at least three GFCs per week. The questionnaire included an instrument, designed using the framework of self-determination theory, to measure a comprehensive variety of motivations to exercise. Eight different motivations were at least somewhat important. There was a significant correlation between self-report and tracking measures of primary GFC (p < .001). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in motivations to exercise based on a participant's primary GFC (p < .01). A post hoc test determined that Health Pressures was the only motivation subscale to significantly contribute to the main effect (p < .003). The findings demonstrated that self-report is an accurate predictor of primary GFC and that primary GFC could explain variation in motivations to exercise. The study should be replicated at larger, more diverse institutions. Researchers should continue utilizing the selfdetermination theory by examining factors that foster the competence and autonomy of students attending GFCs.
Details
- Title
- College Students' Motivations To Attend Group Fitness Classes
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 161
- Copyright
- © 2015 Jennifer Anne Whatley
- Identifiers
- 99380090749006600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida