Social networking and physical activity levels among young adults

Physical activity;Social networking;Post-secondary students

DeVitis, CeliaBeddoes, Zack ;

University of Wisconsin

关键词: Physical activity;    Social networking;    Post-secondary students;   

Others  :  https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/78852/DeVitis_Celia_Thesis.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: University of Wisconsin

【 摘 要 】

This study examined how posting daily pictures of physical activity (PA) to socialnetworking sites (SNS), influenced young adults PA levels and motivational profiles.Participants (N = 58) were 18-22 years of age. The 2-week intervention consisted ofgroup A (SN group) uploading pictures of themselves working out on their Instagramaccount, while group B (Non-SN group) did not upload pictures. Both groups kept a dailyPA log, and tracked steps taken, calories burned, and distance traveled using an OMRONWalking Style Pedometer. The Exercise Regulation Questionnaire (BREQ-2), wasdistributed on days 4, 7, and 10 to determine if posting to SNS influences intrinsicmotivation (IM). Results indicated a significant difference within and between groupintervention t(50) = -3.044, p = 0.004, indicating a greater increase in PA for the SNgroup, than the non-SN group. Findings also indicated that IM was the most significantpredictor of PA while focusing on young adults’ psychological needs for competence,autonomy, and relatedness support. In conclusion, posting PA pictures to SNS canincrease PA levels, as well as moving young adults’ motivational profiles along thecontinuum towards being more IM to engage in PA.