| Description |
Societal pressures that emphasize body image ideals and appearance may influence students' motives for exercising that can have negative impacts on their overall health and well-being. This study examined students who swim recreationally at the University of Utah Student Life Center. The purpose of this study was to examine students' motives for swimming and their relationship with self-esteem, body-esteem, and self-objectification. It was hypothesized (H1) that appearance-related motives for swimming are related to lower self-esteem, lower body-esteem and higher self-objectification. It was also hypothesized (H2) that health-related and enjoyment-related motives for swimming are related to higher self-esteem, higher body-esteem, and lower self-objectification. Measurements for this study included a modified Reasons for Exercise Inventory, self-esteem and body-esteem scales, and the Self-Objectification Questionnaire. Results show a positive relationship between appearance-related motives and self-objectification, as well as a negative relationship between appearance-related motives and both self-esteem and body-esteem. These findings provide some support for campus recreation to promote health and enjoyment motives for exercising over appearance-related motives. |
