Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to examine the changes to exercise identity among a population of female exercise initiates (N=77; Mage= 37.2 years) grouped into an imagery or control condition. According to identity theory (Stets & Burke, 2003), the self is organized into multiple identities which reflect oneself in the context of a particular role. Previous research suggests that a strong exercise identity is associated with more frequent exercise (Strachan et al., 2009) and been found to increase over time (Cardinal & Cardinal, 1997). Participants in this study completed an 8 week cardiovascular program and reported measures at baseline, week 5, and week 9, with two follow up time points (week 18, 36). Using recommendations by Wilson and Muon (2008), exercise identity was examined using a two-factor structure (role identity and accompanying exercise beliefs). With respect to role identity, a 2 (group) ×5 (time) repeated-measures MANOVA revealed a significant effect for time (partial?2 = .67) and a significant interaction (partial?2 = .13). Follow-up analyses indicated that at week 9, role identity was significantly higher for the imagery group (M = 4.71) compared to the control group (M = 3.89). Analysis of exercise beliefs indicated a significant effect for time, with increases from baseline to all time points (partial?2 = .50). Interpretation of the results suggests that initiates who imagine themself as an exerciser may strengthen their contextual role identity.Acknowledgments: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada