Music Majors' Exercise Behavior and Motivations Relative to Other College Majors.

Abstract

A comparative approach was used to determine, relative to a broader college student population, 1) the differences in music majors' exercise behaviors and 2) motivation to engage in regular exercise. Participants consisted of 115 non-music and 99 music college majors. Music majors reported engaging in significantly less global (work and leisure) physical activity, leisure physical activity, and moderate intensity exercise. There were no significant differences between music and non-music majors' weekly exercise frequency and engagement in light- and strenuous-intensity exercise. Regarding motivation, music majors endorsed stronger amotivation towards exercise, while non-music majors made stronger endorsements of three more self-determined motivations: identified regulation, integrated regulation, and intrinsic motivation to experience pleasurable sensations. No differences were observed for intrinsic motivation to learn or to accomplish. All participants failed to exceed the threshold for recommended physical activity, but music majors were even less engaged in moderate exertion exercise and overall leisure activities. Future studies are needed to assess how best to increase music majors' exercise engagement.