Intimidation and distraction in an exercise context

ABSTRACT

The number of gymnasium, fitness centre, and health club memberships in the US has increased dramatically over the past decade. Those persons who exercise at such facilities can be inspired by a variety of factors to achieve certain performance outcomes. Despite their positive motivations, however, club members may be thwarted in their efforts to achieve desirable exercise outcomes. Deterrents to goal attainment can come in the form of various types of distraction. They can also manifest in terms of what has commonly been referred to as “gymtimidation.” More specifically, individuals may be reluctant to engage in exercise activities due to the presence of hardcore gym “regulars,” exercise “fanatics,” or “beautiful people” who engender negative social comparisons and therefore create an intimidating milieu. In addition, certain aspects of the contextual environment itself can lead to feelings of intimidation. We find that both intimidation and distraction negatively affect performance outcomes. However, distractions such as cell-phone usage can actually have positive consequences for the person being affected if the distraction helps to filter out other negative environmental (intimidating) stimuli.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise
• goal attainment
• intimidation
• distraction

Disclosure statement

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

Notes

1 Gymtimidation is a registered trademark of PFIP, LLC, 1-9-13.

2 1% of participants did not respond to our gender question or indicated “neither” male nor female.

3 Intensity could also be defined in terms of ramp incline, but this was not assessed as it proved too difficult to reliably observe.

4 Thus, cases of intimidation may have occurred (and been observed) when there was no concomitant cell-phone interruption, or when both intimidated persons utilized cell phones. These instances were not recorded for use in this study.

5 The ratio could be as much as 30:1; see www.pcworld.com for discussion.

6 Because TI as well as TO means reflected all device connections (including those that occurred as a result of short-term proximity to the Wi-Fi hotspot by non-patrons), connection count was in all cases greater than customer count. However, connection/customer ratios were not significantly different (Z < 1).

7 Listed as separate questions.

8 Participants in the No-Distraction conditions responded “not applicable” to these questions.