Factors influencing regular exercise in young women: a survey study assessing the preferences and motivators for aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise.

Young adult women have unique barriers to exercise, but assessing the psychological and behavioral strategies of women who overcome these barriers may be beneficial for informing future exercise programs. This study assessed differences in motives and self-regulation by type (aerobic or muscle-strengthening) and frequency of exercise, along with preferences for exercise amongst young adult women who exercise regularly.

Methods: A survey assessed exercise frequency (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), intensity (Borg's scale), type, and social and physical preferences. The Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 measured motivators for exercise and the Physical Activity Self-Regulation Scale measured self-regulation. Characteristics and preferences for exercise were examined using descriptives and frequencies. MANOVAs assessed differences in motivators and self-regulation by frequency of exercise, and regression analyses assessed differences in exercise predictors by type.

Results: The sample consisted of 269 women ages 18-34 (66.5% White), of whom 80.3% met the national guidelines for aerobic exercise, 78.4% met the guidelines for muscle-strengthening exercise, and 32.3% identified resistance exercise as their preferred type of exercise. Weight management and self-regulation (p = .021, R² = .073) were the strongest predictors of aerobic exercise. Positive health, strength and endurance, and self-regulation (p = .023, R² = .161) were predictors of muscle-strengthening exercise. Women who participated in high amounts of aerobic exercise were motivated by interpersonal factors while psychological factors motivated high frequency of muscle-strengthening exercise.

Conclusions: Programs for young adult women should consider incorporating resistance exercise as this study shows it may evoke motivation that could lead to regular participation. Self-regulation strategies were associated with adherence to both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises, highlighting the potential importance for inclusion in future interventions.