Group norms and their relationship to cohesion in an exercise environment

Abstract

The present study focused on the examination of four group norms (communication, support, effort, and attendance) in an exercise setting. The purpose of the investigation was twofold: (a) to examine, through the determination of group consensus and strength, whether group norms were present in an exercise setting and (b) to assess the relationship between perceptions of group norms and task cohesion. Participants were sixty exercisers (M _age = 22.33 yrs.) who had been randomly assigned to 13 exercise groups (n = 4 or 5). All exercisers participated in a run/walk program and completed measures of exercise group norms and cohesion. Preliminary supportive evidence for the presence of group norms in the exercise domain was obtained. In addition, normative expectations were found to be related to both task cohesion dimensions (Individual Attractions to the Group‐Task and Group Integration‐Task). Specific findings are discussed and the need for further examination of group norms in different exercise situations is suggested

Key Words:

• exercise
• group norms
• group cohesion