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Shelby Rowles Masters Thesis.pdf (430 KB)

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Fitness Content on Social Media and Exercise Behaviors and Motivation in College Students

Rowles, Shelby J
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7941-1360
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638373828330654

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Social media’s presence has increased in the lives of college students in the generations following its creation roughly two decades ago. It is important for us to examine its effects on our behaviors and motivations for activity participation, especially those that alter our health. Fitness content, or “fitspiration”, is a popular subcategory of social media that is of particular interest, due to its large followings across various social media platforms, as well as its proposed effects on various health-related behaviors. A sample of nearly 370 Health Sciences students a large, Midwestern university completed a printed survey regarding their interaction with fitness content on social media, exercise behaviors (frequency, length, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), interest in fitness), and motivation towards exercise. Participants were categorized and analyzed according to their interaction with fitness content on social media. Significant differences in exercise frequency were found between those that only view fitness content and those that post and view fitness content, as well as between those that have no interaction with fitness content and those that post and view fitness content. There were also significant differences in length of exercise sessions between those that have no interaction with fitness content and those that view fitness content, as well as those that only view fitness content and those that post and view fitness content. Moreover, there were significant differences in interest in fitness across those that have no interaction with fitness content and those that only view it, those that have no interaction and those that post and only view it, and those that only view it compared to those that post and view it. There were no significant differences found in motivation towards exercise across groups. This study depicts the significant impact that passive interaction with fitness content on social media has on behaviors and emphasizes the importance of being conscious of what one views on social media networking sites. Moreover, college students in this study are more extrinsically motivated than intrinsically motivated to exercise. This trend towards extrinsic motivation toward exercise is not a cause for concern in itself but may lead to effects that are less desirable compared to if this group were intrinsically motivated for exercise, such as lower levels of exercise adherence. As social media continues to play a monumental role in the lives of college students today, it is essential for us to consider its impacts on health and well-being related behaviors, as social media’s presence is expected to increase in the lives of generations to come.
Kristen Welker (Advisor)
Jill Clutter (Committee Member)
Georgianna Sergakis (Committee Member)
48 p.
Health
Exercise, Exercise Motivation, College Students, Social Media, Fitness, Fitspiration, Self-Determination Theory

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rowles, S. J. (2021). Fitness Content on Social Media and Exercise Behaviors and Motivation in College Students [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638373828330654

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rowles, Shelby. Fitness Content on Social Media and Exercise Behaviors and Motivation in College Students. 2021. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638373828330654.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rowles, Shelby. "Fitness Content on Social Media and Exercise Behaviors and Motivation in College Students." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638373828330654

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1638373828330654
949
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