Effects Of A Personalized Fitness Program On Attitudes Toward Exercise And Quality Of Life

INTRODUCTION: Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) Exercise Science has offered a Community Fitness Program for 12 years. Previous research has shown biometric improvements and increased physical functioning in community clients. Such gains in physical fitness are expected to be accompanied by improvements in psychological well-being and attitudes toward exercise. PURPOSE: To examine the physical, psychological, and quality of life benefits for clients participating in the SMSU Exercise Science Community Fitness Program. METHODS: Thirty five participants in the SMSU Exercise Science Community Fitness Program completed the Exercise Attitude Scale (EAS, based on Ajzen and Driver, 1991), Self Efficacy Scale for Exercise (SEE, Resnick & Jenkins, 2000), Short-Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS, Stuart-Brown et al., 2009), and the Health Status Questionnaire Version 2 (HSQ, Barry et al. 2007). Measures were obtained both before and after completing a 12-week training program. Pre- and post-testing was also completed to assess resting heart rate, blood pressure, resting respiration rate, body weight, BMI, body fat and core muscular stability, upper body muscular endurance, flexibility, functional balance, and cardio-respiratory fitness. RESULTS: Clients showed significant improvement in attitudes toward exercise (EAS Mpre = 5.79, Mpost = 6.23, t = 3.61, p < .001), with higher scores at posttest for both the instrumental and affective subscales (p < .001). There was also a significant increase in clients’ well-being (SWEMWBS Mpre = 27.80, Mpost = 29.69, t = 1.84, p = .037, one-tailed). Clients reported an increase in overall health status (HSQ Mpre = 84.08, Mpost = 87.44, t = 2.47. p = .009, one-tailed), with significant gains on subscales for health perception, physical functioning, and perceived energy (all p’s < .05, one-tailed). There was no significant change in clients’ confidence in the face of barriers to exercise as measured by the SEE. Clients’ mean scores on a global quality of life indicator increased from Mpre = 83.77 to Mpost = 85.06 on a 100-point scale, although this gain was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Data collected supports the theory that gains in biometric measures will be accompanied by improved psychological well-being and attitudes toward exercise.