For immediate release
May 28, 2009
STRESS AND CULTURE AFFECT EXERCISE MOTIVATION
Various factors impact
college students’ physical activity levels,
reasoning
SEATTLE – Stress levels and cultural considerations affect
how much and for what reasons college students exercise, according to
research presented at the American College of Sports
Medicine’s 56th Annual
Meeting in Seattle.
One study, conducted by
Rafer Lutz, Ph.D., found that college-aged women who do not exercise
regularly are even less likely to be physically active when under
stress. But those with consistent exercise levels accumulate more
physical activity when experiencing similar emotions.
“I think our study
suggests, more than anything, varying perceptions of exercise,”
Lutz said. “Someone who isn’t regularly active may view
exercise as ‘one more burden’ when stressed, whereas those
who make it a part of daily life may view it as a stress reliever and an
escape from pressure.”
A second study examined
exercise differences between more than 400 students American and Chinese
college students. Researchers found that Americans typically exercise
for weight control and physical appearance, while the Chinese exercise
more for health and enjoyment reasons.
“These results
reinforce the complexity of exercise behavior change, particularly among
diverse and multicultural groups,” said lead study author Zi Yan,
M.S. “Although we didn’t study the origins of these exercise
motivations, it may be a reflection of cultural values and what young
people are taught to prioritize about themselves.”
ACSM guidelines
support the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines
for Americans, which recommend that adults participate in at least 150
minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, which can be achieved
in 30-minute segments five days a week.
The
American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports
medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than
35,000 international, national and regional members and certified
professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific
research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise
science and sports medicine.
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The conclusions outlined
in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not
be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine.
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