Comparing Self-Efficacy, Resilience, and Perceived Loneliness Among Young Men Who Lift Weights in Gym and Who Don’t

This study aims to compare self-efficacy, resilience and perceived loneliness among young men aged 18-30 years who lift weights in the gym and young men who don’t lift weights or perform any other kind of resistance training. From a sample (N=98) of young men aged 18-30, 48 have been lifting weights in the gym consistently for at least 4 days a week for last 12 months, while 50 have never lifted weights or performed any form of resistance training in last 12 months nor have even gone to gym consistently for more than 3 months ever. Using independent sample t test to assess the difference in the means, the result shows young men who lift weights in the gym exhibit significantly higher self-efficacy (p=0.08), higher resilience (p=0.29), but also tend to perceive more loneliness (p=0.15). Although the research doesn’t explore causation, the discipline and hard work required to stay consistent with rigorous exercise protocol for more than a year might contribute in self-efficacy and resilience. Higher perceived loneliness may be attributed to the fact that friendships formed in the gym tend to lack depth, people in the gym are more focused on themselves over building deep connections or spending a lot of time in the gym lifting weights might be more appealing to more lonely men. Further research is needed to explain these findings.