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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(8): 1094-1104, 2017. Only 20.3% of American adults meet the Center for Disease Control’s minimum recommended volume of exercise for anaerobic and aerobic physical activities (11). This small proportion representing those who reach the suggested physical activity levels is an issue of concern for researchers and practitioners in health-related disciplines; further, the Centers for Disease Control report that physical inactivity levels are even higher for women than those of males. In 2008, only 42% of women 18 years and older met the minimal federal levels of aerobic activity through leisure-time aerobic activity (2). This statistic could be considered alarming as American women are not able to reap the physical and psychological benefits of regular exercise activity. Lack of research devoted to determining the reasoning for females’ participation and adherence to physical activity. The purpose of the study was to examine the psychosocial changes in the constructs of social cognitive theory in a female-only fitness camp environment across three six-week segments. The study consisted of 62 women, with ages ranging from 23-61 years (x = 35.66 years), who were enrolled for at least one six-week session at a southeastern boot camp-style fitness program. A Wilcoxon Signed-ranks test indicated that the Barriers to Exercise scores significantly changed from the pre-testing period (Mdn = 29) to the post-testing period (Mdn = 27.5), Z = -2.27, p < .05, r = -0.30. The results of the study imply that an all-female fitness camp influence the perception of barriers to engaging in physical activity.

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