The role of men's body attitudes, implicit, and explicit motivation toward gym attendance

Abstract

Background: A dual-systems approach was taken to investigate the role of men’s body attitudes with implicitly and explicitly measured motivation, in relation to gym attendance. Self-determination theory was chosen as a measure of motivation, as it has been extensively used in relation to health, fitness, and exercising. Whereas the majority of research focuses on promoting exercise and fitness regimens, there is increasing concern regarding reasons for excessive exercising. Methods: A cross-sectional approach was used to measure the predictive validity of body attitudes, implicit, and explicit motivation to attend gyms and work-out regularly. Individuals who regularly attended a gym were recruited to participate. Findings: Attitudes related to body fat, as well as explicitly-measured autonomous motivation, significantly predicted gym attendance. However, implicitly-measured motivation significantly and negatively predicted gym attendance. Discussion: While measuring men’s explicit, self-reported motivation and body attitudes may predict some reasons for gym attendance, implicit motivation may add to our understanding of reasons men attend gyms regularly. Practitioners and professionals trainers may improve gym attendance by focusing on both explicit, autonomous reasons to attend the gym, while also minimising the influence of unplanned, controlling reasons for exercise. The presentation will finish by discussing the next steps in this research program: understanding the sequence of events of post-injury gym behaviours in men who over-exercise.