Investigating the Mediational Relationship of Leadership, Class Cohesion, and Adherence in an Exercise Setting
In: Small group research: an international journal of theory, investigation, and application, Band 32, Heft 5, S. 558-575
ISSN: 1552-8278
The purpose of this study was to determine if older adults' perceptions of class cohesion serve as a mediator between exercise class leader behavior and adherence (operationally defined as attendance and perceived exertion) in exercise programs. Participants were enrolled in recreational exercise programs. Each participant completed a questionnaire that assessed cohesion (individual attractions to the group-task [ATG-T] and -social, group integration-task [GI-T] and group integration-social), class leader behaviors (enthusiasm, availability, motivation, and instruction), and perceived exertion. Attendance was obtained from records maintained by the instructors. Four specific mediation relationships were found: (a) ATG-T mediated the relationship between class leader motivation and perceived exertion, (b) ATG-T mediated the relationship between class leader availability and perceived exertion, (c) ATG-T mediated the relationship between class leader enthusiasm and attendance, (d) GI-T mediated relations between class leader enthusiasm and attendance. A number of aspects related to specific results were discussed.