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Social Comparison Processes As Contributors to Consistent Physical Activity. Holly M University of Louisville ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository Electronic Theses and Dissertations 8-2016 Social comparison processes as contributors to consistent physical activity. Holly M. Knight University of Louisville Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/etd Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons, and the Social Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Knight, Holly M., "Social comparison processes as contributors to consistent physical activity." (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2522. https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/2522 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ThinkIR: The nivU ersity of Louisville's Institutional Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ThinkIR: The nivU ersity of Louisville's Institutional Repository. This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has retained all other copyrights. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SOCIAL COMPARISON PROCESSES AS CONTRIBUTORS TO CONSISTENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY By Holly M. Knight B.A., Auburn University, 2010 M.A., University of Louisville, 2013 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Louisville in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences University of Louisville Louisville, KY August 2016 ii SOCIAL COMPARISON PROCESSES AS CONTRIBUTORS TO CONSISTENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY By Holly M. Knight B.A., Auburn University, 2010 M.A., University of Louisville, 2013 A Dissertation Approved on June 10, 2015 by the following Dissertation Committee _____________________________________ Barbara A. Stetson, Ph.D. ____________________________________ Paul G. Salmon, Ph.D. _____________________________________ Benjamin T. Mast, Ph.D. ______________________________________ Marci S. DeCaro, Ph.D. ______________________________________ Ann M. Swank, Ph.D. iiiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light." - Albert Schweitzer I would like to give my sincerest thanks to all of the individuals who have kept my academic flame alight. iiiiv ABSTRACT SOCIAL COMPARISON PROCESSES AS CONTRIBUTORS TO CONSISTENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Holly M. Knight June 10, 2015 The present study examined the impact that attention to social comparison (SC) information may have on consistency in physical activity (PA) behaviors across genders. SC factors, including SC frequency, SC direction and trait tendency to compare (SCO) were assessed within the Dynamic Relapse Model (DRM) as markers of PA consistency within men and women. Participants were N=200 individuals engaging in physical activity at YMCA gym facilities. Data collection utilized cross-sectional methods including anthropomorphic data collection at the point of recruitment and online self- report measures post-recruitment. High adherence to regular physical activity was observed, with participants reporting infrequent slips in PA (modal PA slips was 0). Participants reported engaging in upward and lateral SC most frequently, with downward SC being infrequently reported. Overall reported engagement in SC was intermittent; the modal frequency of SC engagement was “sometimes.” Specific hypotheses were developed to explore the relationships between SC direction, SCO, gender and PA consistency outcomes. SC direction and frequency were not related to PA consistency. Gender differences were not observed in the frequency of SC constructs or PA viv consistency, however, a significant interaction was observed between gender and SCO; women’s PA consistency was impacted by SCO to a greater extent than their male counterparts’. A decrease in PA consistency was observed at high levels of SCO in women, but not in men. Study findings suggest that SCO may be most impactful on women’s PA behaviors, regardless of SC direction and frequency. Results identify possible clinical intervention points for the promotion of PA consistency, particularly focusing on women who demonstrate a high tendency to compare themselves (SCO). The study provides support for the contribution of social comparison processes to PA consistency and demonstrates that social cognitions warrant greater exploration within models of health behavior. viv TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………….……………...iii ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………..……………..iv LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………….…………..viii LIST OF FIGURES……………………….…………………………………….……...x INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………..……1 PURPOSE OF PROPOSED STUDY……………………………………………..….19 METHODS………………………………………………………………………..….23 Participant Selection……………………………………………………….....23 Procedures………………………………………………………………….....23 Measures……………………………...…………………………………...….24 Statistical Approach…………………………………………………….….…28 RESULTS………………………………………………………………………….…33 Participant Characteristics…………………………………………………….33 Primary Study Variables……………………………………………………...36 Hypothesis Testing……………………………………………………………39 DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………………44 Hypothesis Testing……………………………………………………………44 Support for the Social Comparison Theory within a Model of Health Behavior Consistency……………………………………………………………………57 Use of the Dynamic Relapse Model as a Framework for Physical Activity vi Consistency………………………………….………………………………...58 Study Characteristics Influencing Participation………………………………62 Participant Characteristics with Potential Influence on Outcomes…..…….....63 Strengths and Limitations…………………………………… ………………66 Implications and Recommendations………………………………………….68 Summary of Conclusions………………………………………………….….76 APPENDICES.………………………………………………..…………………..….77 REFERENCES………………………………………….……………………….……92 CURRICULUM VITAE………………………………………………………...…...120 vii LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Individuals Recruited by Data Collection Site……………………………………92 2. Total Response Rates for Measure Completion…………………………………..93 3. Distribution of Age, Gender and Ethnicity for Completers by Data Collection Site……………………………………………………………95 4. Descriptive Information for Demographic Characteristics of Sample……………96 5. Demographic Characteristics of Social Comparison Direction Groups…………..98 6. Demographic Characteristics by Social Comparison Orientation Group (High/Low SCO)………………………………………………………………….100 7. Health Characteristics of Participants…………………………………………….102 8. Physical Activity Characteristics of Participants…………………………………103 9. Mean Differences in Social Comparison and Physical Activity Constructs by Gender………………………………………………………………………....105 10. Mean Differences in Social Comparison Orientation and Physical Activity Constructs by Self-Reported Comparison Direction……………………………...106 11. Mean Differences in Social Comparison and Physical Activity Constructs by Iowa- Netherlands Comparison Orientation Scale Score……………………………….107 12. Mean Differences in Social Comparison and Physical Activity Constructs by Recruitment Site………………………………………………………………….108 13. Comparisons of Physical Activity Variables Across Body Mass Index viii Categories……………………………………………………………………....109 14. Frequency of Social Comparison for Testing of Hypothesis 1………………...…110 15. Differences in Physical Activity Consistency across Social Comparison Directions for Hypothesis 2………………………………………………………111 16. Gender Comparisons between Comparison Direction, Frequency and Orientation for Hypothesis 4……………………………………………………………….…112 17. Associations between Social Comparison Direction, Orientation, Gender and Physical Activity Slips for Hypothesis 5…………………………………..…...113 18. Mean Frequency of Physical Activity Slips by Gender and Social Comparison Orientation for Hypothesis 5……………………………………………..………114 19. Multivariate Associations of Social Comparison Variables with Physical Activity Slips, Controlling for Demographic and Cognitive Variables……………….…115 ix LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Participant recruitment chart and retention numbers…………………………....117 2. Proposed Social Comparison Processes within a Physical Activity Consistency Model…………………………………………….……………......118 3. Mean physical activity slips by gender and social comparison orientation group………………………………………………………………………….…119 xi x INTRODUCTION Physical activity (PA) plays an integral role in copious medical conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension (Kesaniemi et al., 2001) with each respective disease contributing significantly to both morbidity and mortality rates in the U.S (Guh et al., 2009). The consequences of insufficient PA are apparent: two-thirds of American adults are considered overweight or obese (Ogden, Carroll, McDowell, & Flegal, 2007) and 90% will experience hypertension within their lifetime (Vasan et al., 2002). Alarmingly, cardiovascular disease remains the primary cause of death within the U.S. (Foot, Lewis, Pearson, & Beller, 2000) in spite of evidence suggesting that increases in PA may prevent or delay its development (Thompson & Lim, 2003). Further, individuals who engage in consistent PA report fewer days in which they suffer poor mental and physical health (Brown et al., 2003). Indeed, the psychological benefits associated with PA are well established for anxiety, depressive symptoms and stress (Dishman & Buckworth, 1997). Despite an understanding of the health benefits attributable to regular PA engagement, levels of adult PA and sedentarism
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