Abstract
Self-presentational concerns have been shown to influence exercise-related outcomes including physical activity participation, choice of activity, and effort. Few studies have measured self-presentational concerns within a performance setting. Further, within these studies, it is often assumed that results are due to self-presentational concerns without directly measuring these concerns. Also impression motivation – the degree to which people are motivated to control how others see them – although important within the self-presentational framework, has not been controlled for. This study investigated the role of self-presentational efficacy in running performance within groups; in male university students, controlling for impression motivation. Participants (N=31) completed measures of self-presentational efficacy and impression motivation. Participants were then asked to run one mile as quickly as possible in two conditions on two separate days: alone and in a group. Participants were able to adjust the speed of their treadmill; however, only the distance display was visible. A hierarchical regression was conducted to examine the relationship between self-presentational efficacy and running performance in a group, controlling for impression motivation and running performance in the alone condition. The overall regression was significant (F(3, 30)=13.30, p<0.01). Self-presentational efficacy had a significant negative relationship to running performance in a group. The findings illustrated that men higher in self-presentational efficacy ran faster when running in a group condition. Future research should examine ways to alter the physical and social environment to manipulate self-presentational efficacy to positively impact performance.
