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The Diabetes Educator

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Health Education & Behavior
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*Exercise for Children
*Exercise and Physical Fitness
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Article

Group Cohesion and Social Support in Exercise Classes: Results From a Danish Intervention Study

Ulla Christensen, MA, PhD1*, Lone Schmidt, MD, PhD1, Esben Budtz-Jørgensen, MSc, PhD2, Kirsten Avlund, DrMedSc, PhD1

1 Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2 Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: u.christensen{at}socmed.ku.dk.


  Abstract

This study examines the formation of group cohesion and social support in exercise classes among former sedentary adults, participating in a Danish community-based intervention. Furthermore, the aim is to analyze the impact of this process on exercise activity among the participants. A multimethod approach was used, analyzing both survey data and 18 personal interviews collected among 87 participants who completed the intervention project. Analysis was performed according to the grounded theory method. The formation of group cohesion was conditioned by the social composition of the group, the teaching ability by the instructors, and the activity by itself. The cohesive group was characterized by an attitude of mutual support toward exercise activities. This mutual support facilitated development of self-efficacy beliefs among the participants improving their mastery expectation regarding exercise. Manipulating group dynamics may be a promising intervention tool in the promotion of leisure-time physical activity.

Key Words: group cohesion, social support, exercise

First published on May 31, 2006, doi:10.1177/1090198105277397

Health Education & Behavior 2006;33:677.

A more recent version of this article appeared on October 1, 2006

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 J Health PsycholHome page
R. Graham, J. Kremer, and G. Wheeler
Physical Exercise and Psychological Well-being among People with Chronic Illness and Disability: A Grounded Approach
J Health Psychol, May 1, 2008; 13(4): 447 - 458.
[Abstract] [PDF]