Effects of Leadership Style and Group Dynamics on Enjoyment of Physical Activity

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 277-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley D. Fox ◽  
W. Jack Rejeski ◽  
Lise Gauvin

Purpose. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the independent and combined effects of leadership style and group dynamics on the enjoyment of physical activity. Design. A completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial design was used in which the manipulation of “leadership style” (socially enriched vs. bland) was crossed with a manipulation of “group dynamics” (socially enriched vs. bland). Setting. The study was conducted in an aerobics studio on a university campus. Subjects. The sample included 48 male and 42 female undergraduate students who were moderately active. Intervention. Each participant was involved in a single session of step aerobics. A female graduate student provided either an enriched or bland series of interactions to manipulate leadership style, and a trained group of planted undergraduates was used to promote either an enriched or bland group environment. Measures. The outcome measures of interest were enjoyment and the probability of engaging in a similar activity in the future. Results. Participants in the enriched leadership style plus enriched group dynamics condition reported higher enjoyment than did participants in the other three conditions. On average, the level of enjoyment was 22.07% higher in this condition than in the other three conditions (p < .001). The probability of future involvement was 13.93% higher for participants in the enriched group environment, irrespective of leadership style (p < .03). Conclusions. Enjoyment during physical activity is optimized when a positive and supportive leadership style is coupled with an enriched and supportive group environment. Future research is required to extend these findings to other activities and populations.

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 556-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Bassett ◽  
Ray Browning ◽  
Scott A. Conger ◽  
Dana L. Wolff ◽  
Jennifer I. Flynn

Background:The indoor built environment has the potential to influence levels of physical activity. However, the extent to which architectural design in commercial buildings can influence the percentage of people choosing to use the stairs versus elevators is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if buildings with centrally located, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing staircases result in a greater percentage of people taking the stairs.Methods:Direct observations of stair and elevator use were conducted in 3 buildings on a university campus. One of the buildings had a bank of 4 centrally located elevators and a fire escape stairwell behind a steel door. The other 2 buildings had centrally located staircases and out-of-the-way elevators.Results:The percentage of people who ascended the stairs was 8.1% in the elevator-centric building, compared with 72.8% and 81.1% in the 2 stair-centric buildings (P < .001). In addition, the percentage of people who descended the stairs was 10.8% in the first building, compared with 89.5% and 93.7% in the stair-centric buildings (P < .001).Conclusions:The results of the current study suggest that if buildings are constructed with centrally located, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing staircases, a greater percentage of people will choose to take the stairs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e230
Author(s):  
Gerry Chan ◽  
Ali Arya ◽  
Rita Orji ◽  
Zhao Zhao

Background Exergames have attracted the interest of academics, practitioners, and designers, in domains as diverse as health, human-computer interaction, psychology, and information technology. This is primarily because exergames can make the exercise experience more enjoyable and entertaining, and in turn, can increase exercise levels. Despite the many benefits of exergames, they suffer from retention problems. Thus, the objective of this article was to review theories and game elements that have been empirically examined or employed in an attempt to make exergames more motivating so people engage in sustained physical activity (duration of physical activity) in a repeating pattern over time (frequency of physical activity). Methodology A literature search and narrative review were conducted. Results Five major theories and elements were prevalent in the exergaming literature: (1) self-determination theory, (2) gamification, (3) competition and cooperation, (4) situational interest, and (5) social interaction. These theories and elements are important for encouraging long-term play and show promise for designing exergames to promote sustained engagement and motivate physical activity. We discuss their strengths and weaknesses throughout the paper. Conclusions The long-term effectiveness of exergame interventions is unclear mainly because of the limited amount of long-term studies. Better metrics are also needed to evaluate this effectiveness. We also identified particular attention to social factors and group dynamics, such as multi-player exergames and more effective player matchmaking strategies for increasing social connectedness, as a key area of future research.


1982 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 800-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Gill Woodall ◽  
Susan E. Kogler Hill

Research on leadership has suggested a possible relationship between style of leadership and being able to understand the viewpoints of others. The present investigation sought to determine the relationship between two measures of empathy and style of leadership. 127 undergraduate students, participating in small groups, were given Hobart and Fahlberg's predictive empathy measure, Barrett-Lennard's Relationship Inventory (perceived empathy), and Fiedler's Least Preferred Co-worker Scale (leadership style). A multiple regression analysis indicated that predictive empathy was a significant but moderate predictor of style while perceived empathy was not a significant predictor. The results were discussed in terms of future research and theory building.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasser Al-Shboul ◽  
Adnan Abumahfouz

This study aims to investigate the differences in the understanding of how to give advice among Jordanian male and female students at Al- Balqa' Applied University (henceforth, BAU). In addition, it aims to provide explanations of these prominent differences between the two participating groups. Hinkel’s (1997) Multiple Choice Questionnaire (MCQ) is used as a data collection instrument. The questionnaire is translated into Arabic to ensure that participants truly comprehend the situations. Results demonstrate that there are differences between the two participating groups. For example, Jordanian male students favour to give advice indirectly more than using hedge advice, direct advice and opting out in both peer acquaintance and instructor situations. On the other hand, Jordanian female students prefer to use hedge advice in responding to both peer acquaintance and instructor situations more frequently than using direct advice, indirect advice and opting out. The present study concludes with a discussion of essential directions for future research.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Alcaraz-Rodriguez ◽  
Mario M. Alvarez ◽  
Marcia Villasana

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify how an entrepreneurship program in the life-sciences impacts the development of their entrepreneurial skills and values in undergraduate students. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative study was conducted at Tecnologico de Monterrey, a private university in Mexico. Questionnaires were administered to life-sciences students before and after the entrepreneurship course to analyze and identify the development of pre-defined entrepreneurial characteristics. Findings – Results indicate a positive and significant impact on several of the 13 entrepreneurial characteristics evaluated in the study (negotiation skills, need of achievement and initiative). Empirical insights gained in the study suggest that gender does not yield to differences in the degree of involvement in activities, and that previous entrepreneurship experience may contribute to enhanced engagement in the program. Research limitations/implications – The paper reports on students from one university campus. Future research should include students from other locations in the country. Practical implications – It is evident that university entrepreneurship programs have an impact on students' skills and values; however, the challenge still remains in the design of those programs to include more activities and draw on the students' own competences. Originality/value – This paper contributes with evidence from an entrepreneurship program implemented in a Latin American university, a region for which documentation of the degree of success of entrepreneurship education is limited in the literature.


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1206-1215
Author(s):  
Nurul Afiqah Nor Amin ◽  
Chin Han Wuen ◽  
Amiruddin Ismail

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the styles that are desirable in a leader in the perspective of youth in Asia, particularly Brunei Darussalam and South Korea. Thus, by investigating it using the Path Goal Theory as its approach, this study provides leaders with the desirable leadership style to motivate and influence the youth. Design/methodology/approach The research used a quantitative method with a proportionate stratified sampling method using the criteria of age of youth defined by UNESCO. The data then collected using a face-to-face method of a questionnaire from February 2016 till June 2016. Findings The evidence depicts that Bruneian youth prefers directive leadership while South Korean youth prefers supportive leadership. This finding is based on the selected styles that are desirable by the youth and their choice is also influenced by culture. This may imply that culture has a large impact which can determine the leadership styles best suited to the environment. Research limitations/implications Since the research has limited sample sizes and geographical location, this can lead to future research by considering more regions of different continents to determine whether different leadership preference still persists. This study can also be used as a basis to consider other factors in investigating leadership preference in Asian countries. Originality/value This paper identifies and encourages the need to study leadership style that is desirable among youth.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan M. Shaikh ◽  
Megan S. Patterson ◽  
Beth Lanning ◽  
M. Renee Umstattd Meyer ◽  
Clinton A. Patterson

Physical activity is related to overall well-being among college students. For many college students, on-campus recreational facilities are the primary environment for physical activity to occur. Social cognitive theory highlights the relationship between individual factors, the environment, and behavior. This study aimed to assess the relationship of individual-level factors, including self-efficacy, exercise behaviors, and social physique anxiety, as well as students’ reported comfort in the recreational environment, with use of campus facilities. To test these relationships, the researchers surveyed 189 undergraduate students and conducted descriptive and linear regression analyses. Results suggest students’ comfort in their recreational environment is critical to their use of facilities, and, in turn, their engagement in physical activity. Suggestions for future research and practice, particularly concerning recreational facility use, are included in the discussion.


2021 ◽  
pp. 11-14
Author(s):  
Marcin Pasek ◽  
Elena Bendíková ◽  
Mirosława Szark-Eckardt

The studies were conducted to determine the degree of dependence between the physical conditions of organizing school exercise classes and the accompanying emotions expressed by pupils. The factor differentiating the nature of these classes was the environment, which in one case was the natural environment in the vicinity of the school, and in the other one - school infrastructure facilities. The data were collected using The Physical Activity Group Environment Questionnaire PAGEQ in a group of 220 students participating in a kinesiology learning project. The results seem to indicate the role of the natural environment that positively shapes human feelings.


Retos ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 297-301
Author(s):  
Jorge Acebes Sánchez ◽  
Gabriel Rodríguez-Romo

A pesar de la variedad de enfoques ante el constructo de inteligencia emocional y la actividad física, se sigue investigando en esta área focalizando la atención en los deportistas actuales y en su rendimiento y no en las relaciones que estas actividades puedan tener con los diferentes niveles de las dimensiones de la inteligencia emocional. El objetivo principal de la investigación es estudiar las relaciones entre actividad física, experiencia deportiva a lo largo de la vida e inteligencia emocional en los alumnos universitarios. Se contactará con 1301 alumnos de Grado de la Comunidad de Madrid que contestarán a través de Google Forms a las siguientes herramientas: GPAQv2, encuesta ad hoc. De experiencia deportiva y TMMS-24. Se emplearán pruebas descriptivas, se llevará a cabo correlación bivariada de Pearson y se emplearán modelos de regresión múltiple por pasos. Los resultados ayudarán a enmarcar las investigaciones futuras dotando de importancia al deporte y a la actividad física como elementos fundamentales para el desarrollo y entrenamiento de forma transversal de las destrezas emocionales, encontrando y analizando las relaciones que existen entre el nivel de actividad física, la experiencia deportiva a lo largo de la vida de las personas y la inteligencia emocional en alumnos universitarios de Grado de la Comunidad de Madrid. Esta investigación pretende abrir una vía más en la que el deporte y la actividad física, vuelvan a ser el contexto idóneo para la solución de necesidades intrapersonales e interpersonales. Abstract. Despite the existence of a variety of approaches on emotional intelligence and physical activity, research currently focuses on sportsmen/sportswomen and their performance rather than on the relation between the latter and the different levels of emotional intelligence. The main objective of this research is to analyze the relation between physical activity, individuals long-life sports experience, and emotional intelligence among undergraduate students. We will contact 1,301 undergraduate students from the Community of Madrid, who will fill up different questionnaires on the platform Google Forms: GPAQv2, ad hoc survey of sports experience, and TMMS-24. We will show descriptive statistics, Pearson bivariate correlations, and stepwise multiple regression models. The results will help define future research, giving importance to sports and physical activity as main elements for the development and training of emotional skills, as well as finding and analyzing the relation between physical activity levels, long life sports experience, and emotional intelligence among undergraduate students of Community of Madrid. This research may open a new way for sports and physical activity to be the perfect context to satisfy intrapersonal and interpersonal needs.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (01) ◽  
pp. 058-064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goya Wannamethee ◽  
A Gerald Shaper

SummaryThe relationship between haematocrit and cardiovascular risk factors, particularly blood pressure and blood lipids, has been examined in detail in a large prospective study of 7735 middle-aged men drawn from general practices in 24 British towns. The analyses are restricted to the 5494 men free of any evidence of ischaemic heart disease at screening.Smoking, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol intake and lung function (FEV1) were factors strongly associated with haematocrit levels independent of each other. Age showed a significant but small independent association with haematocrit. Non-manual workers had slightly higher haematocrit levels than manual workers; this difference increased considerably and became significant after adjustment for the other risk factors. Diabetics showed significantly lower levels of haematocrit than non-diabetics. In the univariate analysis, haematocrit was significantly associated with total serum protein (r = 0*18), cholesterol (r = 0.16), triglyceride (r = 0.15), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.17) and heart rate (r = 0.14); all at p <0.0001. A weaker but significant association was seen with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.09, p <0.001). These relationships remained significant even after adjustment for age, smoking, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol intake, lung function, presence of diabetes, social class and for each of the other biological variables; the relationship with systolic blood pressure was considerably weakened. No association was seen with blood glucose and HDL-cholesterol. This study has shown significant associations between several lifestyle characteristics and the haematocrit and supports the findings of a significant relationship between the haematocrit and blood lipids and blood pressure. It emphasises the role of the haematocrit in assessing the risk of ischaemic heart disease and stroke in individuals, and the need to take haematocrit levels into account in determining the importance of other cardiovascular risk factors.


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