Exercise preferences and expectations of young female students in a university environment

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study investigated the exercise preferences of female university studentsparticipating in exercise modes presented at the local gymnasium and theirexpectations of the outcomes of such participation. Secondly, the study aimedto determine the most important reason for their participation and whether thiswas satisfied by their choice of exercise mode. A third aim was to determineother reasons that contributed to the selection of exercise environment andmode.The size of the research group of the pilot study was 210 (n=210). For the finallongitudinal study, over a period of three years, it was 985 (N=985). The studypopulation was selected on a basis of convenient sampling, availability andinterest among young female gymnasium members, (aged 18 to 27 years).Their participation was voluntary. Original questionnaires were constructed forthe purpose of the study to provide general demographic and physicalcharacteristic information of the participants, their exercise preference andchoice of exercise mode, reasons for participation in particular exercise modes,time spent on physical activity, frequency of attendance of exercise sessions,exercise motivators, barriers to exercise, medication and supplementationprevalence, health problems and smoking. The questionnaire was completed ina five to 10 minute time slot before the commencement of exercise classes atthe gymnasium. Information required on the questionnaire was verballyexplained to the participants during the initial few minutes of data capturing.Guidance was given for each section of the questionnaire during the five to 10minute period allocated for completion. Data was captured on Microsoft Excelspreadsheets and the analysis was performed using Statistica for Windows(Statsoft SA-2008). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse and present thedata. The results of the study indicated that most (34.4%) young femalestudents who regularly attended group exercise sessions at the gymnasiumpreferred participating in the exercise modality punchline (a boxing aerobicmodality), with the aim of losing weight (45%) and improving their generalfitness (24%).

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University