Physical and psychological predictors of exercise dosage in healthy adults

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the exercise dose- response issue in a sample of 121 regular exercisers categorized as relatively low, moderate, or high dosage physical activity participants. Methods: Male and female students, faculty, and staff of a midwestern university, currently engaging in various exercise modalities at least two times per week, were assessed on a variety of factors hypothesized to impact one's degree of exercise involvement. Results: ANOVA procedures indicated that low and high dosage groups differed significantly on the variables of age, exercise history, positive affect, and the locus of causality and stability attributional dimensions. Groups did not differ significantly in terms of body mass index, exercise efficacy, perceptions of either personal or external control over exercise behavior, or negative affective reactions to exercise behavior. Conclusions: Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that individuals who exercise at varying doses of physical activity may be differentiated by certain demographic, behavioral, physiological, and psychological variables.