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Aerobic Exercise Is Promoted when Individual Performance Affects the Group: A Test of the Kohler Motivation Gain Effect

Irwin, Brandon C., Scorniaenchi, Jennifer, Kerr, Norbert L., Eisenmann, Joey C., Feltz, Deborah L. (2012) Aerobic Exercise Is Promoted when Individual Performance Affects the Group: A Test of the Kohler Motivation Gain Effect. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 44 (2). pp. 151-159. ISSN 0883-6612. E-ISSN 1532-4796. (doi:10.1007/s12160-012-9367-4) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:41324)

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9367-4

Abstract

Background

A key barrier to achieving recommended intensity and duration of physical activity is motivation.

Purpose

We investigated whether a virtually present partner would influence participants’ motivation (duration) during aerobic exercise.

Method

Fifty-eight females (Mage = 20.54 ± 1.86) were randomly assigned to either a coactive condition (exercising alongside another person, independently), a conjunctive condition (performance determined by whichever partner stops exercising first) where they exercised with a superior partner, or to an individual condition. Participants exercised on a stationary bike at 65 % of heart rate reserve on six separate days.

Results

Across sessions, conjunctive condition participants exercised significantly longer (M = 21.89 min, SD = ±10.08 min) than those in coactive (M = 19.77 min, SD = ± 9.00 min) and individual (M = 10.6 min, SD = ±5.84 min) conditions (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Exercising with a virtually present partner can improve performance on an aerobic exercise task across multiple sessions.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/s12160-012-9367-4
Uncontrolled keywords: Group performance,Group exercise,Exergame,Köhler effect,Motivation,Exercise partner
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Norbert Kerr
Date Deposited: 07 Jun 2014 20:31 UTC
Last Modified: 11 Dec 2023 09:51 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/41324 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Kerr, Norbert L..

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