Chapter 3 - The Psychology of Exercise

Question 1

List 5 common barriers to exercise.

Answer 1

1. Perceived lack of time
2. Unrealistic Goals
3. Lack of Social Support
4. Social Physique Anxiety
5. Convenience: access to facilities, classes, personal trainers, and instructors

Question 2

What is social support? What are the 4 kinds of support?

Answer 2

• Physical and emotional comfort that a person receives from others
  Types of Support:
  1. Instrumental
  2. Emotional
  3. Informational
  4. Companionship

Question 3

List some types of “group” exercise influences.

Answer 3

1. Family
2. Parental
3. Exercise Leader
4. Exercise Group (both size and composition)

Question 4

What is instrumental support? Give some examples.

Answer 4

• The tangible and practical factors necessary to help a person adhere to exercise or achieve exercise goals.
  Examples:
• Transportation to facility
• Babysitter
• Spotter for weight-lifting

Question 5

What is emotional support and why is it important (in regard to exercise)?

Answer 5

• Encouragement, caring, empathy, concern
• Will enhance self-esteem and reduce anxiety
  examples: raising client for efforts, encourage to work harder, sympathize with sore muscles

Question 6

What is informational support (in regard to exercise)?

Answer 6

• Directions, advice, suggestions about how to exercise, feedback regarding their progress
• One of the main reasons why people come to personal trainers in the first place

What is companionship support? What are some benefits of companionship support?

• Availability of family, friends and coworkers with whom clients can exercise with
• Produces positive feelings and may distract people from the negative aspects of exercise-related feelings such as fatigue, pain, and boredom and can provide a sense of camaraderie and accountability

Question 7

What is companionship support? What are some benefits of companionship support?

Answer 7

• Availability of family, friends and coworkers with whom clients can exercise with
• Produces positive feelings and may distract people from the negative aspects of exercise-related feelings such as fatigue, pain, and boredom and can provide a sense of camaraderie and accountability

Question 8

What is social physique anxiety?

Answer 8

• Concern with body image
• Overemphasize the difference between their body type and the body types of others when in a fitness facility.

Question 9

Why are unrealistic goals a common barrier to exercise?

Answer 9

• Lowers motivation
• Decreases self-esteem
• Does not provide the exerciser a sense of success

Question 10

What is sleep apnea?

Answer 10

A sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts, which disrupts the body’s natural sleep cycle.

Question 11

What are the psychological benefits of exercise?

Answer 11

Some of the known psychological benefits to exercise include improved mood, increased self-esteem, increased positive body image, better sleep, and decreased levels of depression and anxiety.

Question 12

Define adherence.

Answer 12

The level of commitment to a behavior or plan of action.