A qualitative exploration of exercise blog believability among emerging adult women

ABSTRACT

Emerging adults aged 18–30 years are a unique population who have lifelong experience with digital media. This has contributed to comfort and familiarity with using the internet as a preferred source of information in particular with regard to exercise. Previous research suggests emerging adults may be conflicted about whether or not to believe the information encountered online. The purpose of this study was to explore what aspects of an exercise blog message are believed, and which aspects contribute to personal relevance for a population of emerging adult women. Using a qualitative descriptive design, one-on-one interviews were completed by the principal investigator with ten women (M_age = 25.6 years) residing in a Western Canadian province, all of whom had or were currently attending university. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to examine and categorise the data, in line with qualitative description designs. Following data analysis, three themes emerged related to blog article believability: information relevance, selective believability, and projecting believability. Exercise blogs may provide an opportunity for some individuals to learn about and diversify personal exercise opportunities. Additionally, participants expressed concern for others, and the potential of these media to contribute to negative outcomes for individuals without prior knowledge in the health disciplines.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise
• emerging adults
• women
• health
• believability
• blogs
• social media

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no funding details to declare.

Notes on contributors

E. M. Ori

E. M. Ori is a recent graduate of the PhD program in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. Her work examines the influence of popular online media on cognitions and behaviours related to physical activity.

T. L. F. McHugh

T. L. F. McHugh is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation at the University of Alberta. Her research is broadly focused on enhancing the sport, physical activity, and body image experiences of youth. Through qualitative and collaborative research approaches her research provides an in-depth exploration of the psychosocial aspects of such experiences.

T. R. Berry

T. R. Berry is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. Her research examines automatic reactions to health-promotion messages and reactions when the time is taken to think about the messages