Predictors of Obligatory Exercise among Undergraduates: Differential Implications for Counseling College Men and Women.

This study examined predictors of obligatory exercise in college undergraduates (N = 172). Regression models indicated that internalization of Western attitudes toward appearance predicted exercise fixation and commitment in women, whereas perceived pressure from dating partners predicted exercise commitment in men. Findings suggest that men may respond more to peer pressure, whereas women may be more susceptible to internalized sociocultural pressure. Implications for differential assessment and treatment of college men and women are discussed. Keywords: obligatory exercise, body image, perceived pressure ********** A nationwide survey of the American College Health Association (ACHA; 2010b) suggests that more than one in five U.S. college students are overweight and nearly 12% are obese. These overweight students are more likely to pursue weight loss strategies (Desai, Miller, Staples, & Bravender, 2008). However, the pursuit of weight loss is not limited to overweight students. Although roughly a third of college students are overweight, over half of all students report exercising to lose weight (ACHA, 2010a; Wharton, Adams, & Hampl, 2008). A subset of these students engage in obligatory exercise, which involves a subjective need to engage in repetitive exercise behaviors and negative emotionality associated with missing exercise sessions (Pasman & Thompson, 1988). Researchers estimate that 12% to 22% of college students experience this obligation to or dependence on exercise (Carman, Hayduk, Crider, & Hodel, 2004; Matheson & Crawford-Wright, 2000). College men and women demonstrate comparable levels of obligatory exercise, suggesting that this phenomenon is problematic for both genders (Chu, Bushman, & Woodard, 2008). An analysis of obligatory exercise suggests that the overcommitment and negative emotionality associated with exercise are correlated with psychological maladjustment and increased risk factors for disordered eating behavior (Steffen & Brehm, 1999). Across several studies, obligatory exercise has been correlated with every subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory (Ackard, Brehm, & Steffen, 2002; Matheson & Crawford-Wright, 2000). In addition, obligatory exercise has been shown to predict all subscales of the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, suggesting that obligatory exercise co-occurs with maladaptive eating behavior (De Young & Anderson, 2010). Given the widespread nature of this problematic behavior in male and female undergraduate students, we seek to identify predictors of obligatory exercise in college men and women to aid counselors in treating risky exercise and weight control behavior. In light of previous research, we expect that body image variables, as well as alcohol use, may contribute to maladaptive exercise behavior. Internalization of the Western Ideal and Perceived Body Image Pressure Eric Stice's dual-pathway model proposes that internalization of Western standards of appearance and perceived pressure to be thin predict body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, and eventual bulimic symptomatology (Stice, Ziemba, Margolis, & Flick, 1996). Studies of college undergraduates provide supporting evidence that students' perceptions of body image norms may contribute to other maladaptive weight control behavior. Female students who internalize the thin ideal are more likely to experience body image disturbance, increased drive for thinness, and negative affect (Gilbert, Crump, Madhere, & Schutz, 2009; Tylka & Subich, 2004). Additionally, interventions designed to reduce internalization have been shown to increase body satisfaction while decreasing negative affect and dieting behavior in women (Stice, Chase, Stormer, & Appel, 2001). Although most studies in this area focus on women, internalization of Western appearance ideals has also been associated with increased body dissatisfaction in college men (Morry & Staska, 2001; Warren, 2008). …