ERIC Number: EJ1297029
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
Social Networks, Group Exercise, and Anxiety among College Students
Patterson, M. S.; Gagnon, L. R.; Vukelich, A.; Brown, S. E.; Nelon, J. L.; Prochnow, T.
Journal of American College Health, v69 n4 p361-369 2021
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between group exercise membership, social network characteristics, and general state anxiety in a sample of college students. Participants: 490 undergraduates from a private university in the southern US participated in the study. Methods: An egocentric network analysis was conducted to test whether demographic variables, leisure-time physical activity, group exercise membership, flourishing scores, and network variables were related to anxiety. Results: Regression analyses (R[superscript 2] = 0.174, F = 7.650, p < 0.0001) suggest group exercise membership ([beta] = -0.105, p = 0.034) and flourishing scores ([beta] = -0.342, p < 0.0001) were related to lower anxiety scores, while being a racial/ethnic minority ([beta] = 0.094, p = 0.036), and having personal networks composed of more people who exercise often ([beta] = 0.100, p = 0.025), were related to higher anxiety scores in this sample. Conclusions: Findings suggest a connection between group exercise membership, activity habits of peers, and anxiety. Encouraging group exercise participation could be an effective way of combating anxiety for college students.
Descriptors: Exercise, Group Activities, Social Networks, Anxiety, Undergraduate Students, Leisure Time, Student Characteristics, Correlation, Racial Differences, Ethnicity, Peer Influence
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A