A psychology student at Vancouver Island University is looking for subjects to take part in research exploring the effects of relationships on exercise.
Derek LeBaron, a fourth-year psychology student working on his undergraduate honours thesis, is conducting a social support and exercise study to determine how various kinds and qualities of social relationships impact overall exercise performance.
B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 cool about this study,B次元官网网址� LeBaron said, B次元官网网址渋s people can bring a friend, a partner, loved one, family member, colleague, whoever they choose, to the study and see how social support from that person either increases or decreases exercise performance.B次元官网网址�
He and his girlfriend normally train at the gym together, but during a period they werenB次元官网网址檛 able to work out together, she noticed she had less motivation to train.
B次元官网网址淪he trains hard and she sent me a text one day. She was, like, I went to the gym and I really wish we were going together. IB次元官网网址檓 motivated more when I go with you B次元官网网址� That got me curious about seeing how romantic relationships and relationships with close others, how that influences exercise performance, exercise adherence B次元官网网址� and thereB次元官网网址檚 a decent amount of literature on that B次元官网网址� so thatB次元官网网址檚 what motivated this study,B次元官网网址� LeBaron said.
But he soon found he needed to expand the study parameters beyond intimate partner, close others and best friends relationships, because potential study participants found it difficult to schedule the in-person exercise sessions into their days.
B次元官网网址淏asically, I just put it to any and all relationships. So whether itB次元官网网址檚 friendships, family members, classmates, colleagues, anything,B次元官网网址� he said.
The exercise performance data collected from the studyB次元官网网址檚 participants is based, in part, on how they perform while pedalling a stationary air resistance exercise bike.
LeBaron isnB次元官网网址檛 ready to reveal what heB次元官网网址檚 learned so far. There are a number of variables the study looks at, but giving away the details of the research could potentially skew data gathered from future participants.
B次元官网网址淲hat people do know is that theyB次元官网网址檙e coming in here and theyB次元官网网址檙e engaging in two bouts of exercise and they know thereB次元官网网址檚 some version of social support,B次元官网网址� LeBaron said. B次元官网网址淪o, I have people sign a consent form and it basically lets them know that theyB次元官网网址檒l be exercising and theyB次元官网网址檒l be moderated by forms of social support.B次元官网网址�
He started the study with his research assistant, psychology student Andrew Szilogyi, in January and said he needs to gather data from as many study participants as possible until the data collection portion of the research closes in mid March.
The research findings will be presented at VIUB次元官网网址檚 Create conference, which showcases student research and creativity projects in April, but LeBaron also hopes to present the studyB次元官网网址檚 results farther afield and he and Szilogyi have applied to be part of the Canadian Psychological Association Convention in Ottawa this year.
LeBaron said he will ultimately work toward a doctorate in counselling, clinical or social psychology.
B次元官网网址淢y dream was always having my own practice and counselling people, but thereB次元官网网址檚 a part of research I love too, so I may do both,B次元官网网址� he said.
Szilogyi said he is working toward becoming an industrial organizational psychologist.
With the study nearing its close, LeBaron is looking to draw in as many participants as possible. So far, 20 subjects have participated, but he would like to double that figure.
To learn more about or to participate in the study, visit or e-mail dereklb@hotmail.ca.
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