A 20-year analysis of motives and training patterns of Swedish gym-goers

Figures & data

Table 1. Data collection 1995, 2005, and 2015.

Year	Men	Women	Total	Resp. rate %
1995	525 (72%)	208 (28%)	733 (100%)	95
2005	602 (67%)	296 (33%)	898 (100%)	70
2015	700 (66%)	357 (34%)	1057 (100%)	87

Figure 1. Age of women 1995, 2005 and 2015.

Figure 2. Age of men 1995, 2005 and 2015.

Table 2. Gym training only (%).

	1995		2005		2015
	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Women	14.5	85.5	3.7	96.3	12.7	87.3
Men	19.0	81.0	19.6	80.4	38.4	61.6

Table 3. Number of average hours training at the gym each week (Mean value).

	1995		2005		2015
	M	SD	M	SD	M	SD
Women	4.9	2.8	3.2	1.8	3.8	3.9
Men	5.6	2.6	4.6	2.2	5.1	4.6

Figure 3. Muscles trained to a high degree (Women, %).

Figure 4. Muscles trained to a high degree (Men, %).

Table 4. Motives for training at the gym 1995–2015 (Mean value, scale 1–5).

		1995		2005		2015
Motives	Gender	M	SD	M	SD	M	SD	Statistical results
1. Improve strength	Male Female	4.53 4.54	0.92 0.94	4.20 4.45	0.79 0.68	4.22 4.44	0.85 0.74	Year: F(2,2640) = 14.069, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.011) Gender: F(1,2640) = 20.985, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.008). Interaction: F(2,2640) = 4.229, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.003).
2. Healthy	Male Female	4.17 4.63	1.15 0.80	4.11 4.53	0.96 0.68	4.18 4.59	0.97 0.74	Year: F(2,2640) = 1.645, p > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.001) Gender: F(1,2640) = 114.226, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.041). Interaction: F(2,2640) = 0.099, P > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.000).
3. Fit (well-trained)	Male Female	4.55 4.52	0.92 0.93	4.29 4.30	0.77 0.82	4.11 4.14	0.90 0.89	Year: F(2,2637) = 40.061, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.029) Gender: F(1,2637) = 0.001, P > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.000). Interaction: F(2,2637) = 0.254, P > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.000).
4. Build muscles	Male Female	4.06 4.27	1.21 1.14	3.86 3.97	0.95 0.98	3.39 3.31	1.21 1.23	Year: F(2,2633) = 106.895, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.075) Gender: F(1,2633) = 2.716, P > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.001). Interaction: F(2,2633) = 3.079, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.002).
5. It’s fun	Male Female	3.47 3.86	1.38 1.35	3.47 3.68	1.07 1.13	3.79 4.14	1.04 0.96	Year: F(2,2632) = 27.971, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.021) Gender: F(1,2632) = 42.384, p < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.016). Interaction: F(2,2632) = 1.292, P > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.001).
6. Firmer shapes	Male Female	3.49 4.52	1.47 0.98	3.20 3.98	1.23 1.22	2.92 3.74	1.25 1.06	Year: F(2.2617) = 54.306, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.040) Gender: F(1.2617) = 283.701, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.098 Interaction: F(2.2617) = 2.122, P > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.002).
7. Improve endurance	Male Female	2.35 3.10	1.63 1.68	3.18 3.33	1.27 1.33	3.36 4.02	1.18 0.98	Year: F(2.2627) = 94.492, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.067) Gender: F(1.2627) = 83.514, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.031 Interaction: F(2.2627) = 11.076, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.008)
8. Look attractive	Male Female	3.19 2.54	1.44 1.53	3.40 3.37	1.14 1.15	3.47 3.35	1.12 1.21	Year: F(2.2621) = 40.862, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.030) Gender:(F(1.2621) = 25.740, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.010) Interaction: F(2.2621) = 11.626, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.009).
9. It’s indoors	Male Female	2.65 3.08	1.59 1.63	2.08 2.19	1.12 1.20	2.21 2.28	1.8 1.23	Year: F(2.2585) = 57.420, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.043) Gender: F(1.2585) = 13.359, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.005). Interaction: F(2.2585) = 3.642, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.003).
10. Meet others	Male Female	2.17 2.45	1.37 1.52	2.28 2.34	1.12 1.21	2.34 2.44	1.18 1.22	Year: F(2.2614) = 1.204, P > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.001) Gender: F(1.2614) = 7.382, P < 0.05, partial η^2= 0.003) Interaction: F(2.2614) = 1.456, P > 0.05, partial η^2= 0.001).