Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

The Effects of a Goal-setting Intervention on Frequency of Participation in Organized Exercise Programmes for Women

Aikaterini Konstantinou, Evangelos Galanis, Yannis Theodorakis, Nikos Comoutos, Aggelos Pappas, Antonis Hatzigeorgiadis

Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science · pp. 25–34 · Published 16 May 2022

10.9734/jesbs/2022/v35i530423

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a goal-setting intervention on frequency of participation in women attending exercise programmes in a fitness club. Study Design: Pragmatic Field Intervention. Place and Duration of Study: The intervention was implemented in a private fitness club and the duration of the study was 12 weeks. Methodology: The final sample consisted of 36 women (Mage = 38.13, SD= 7.40), randomly assigned into intervention (n= 17) and control (n= 19) groups. The intervention lasted eight weeks, during which all participants had unlimited access to all activities of their choice, with the intervention group receiving in parallel a goal-setting intervention. Frequency of attendance was recorded from four weeks prior to the onset of the intervention (baseline) until 4 weeks following its completion (follow-up). The Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale was used to assess satisfaction of basic needs before and after the intervention. Results: The results showed that (a) for the intervention group, frequency of participation increased from baseline (2.15±0.90) to mid-intervention (2.66±0.70) period and dropped back to baseline levels at follow-up (1.77+1.30); (b) for the control group, frequency of participation decreased from baseline (2.07±0.99) to intervention (1.37±0.94) period and remained stable at follow-up (1.47±1.42). Regarding the basic needs, it was shown that satisfaction for the need for competence was increased for the experimental group, and satisfaction for the need for autonomy was decreased for the control group. Conclusion: The findings showed that goal-setting has positive effects on participation for the duration of the intervention; however, these effects were not sustained after its conclusion, suggesting (a) consultants with expertise on goal-setting may help improving adherence in organized programmes, and (b) that such interventions should place emphasis on developing individuals’ skills on goal setting.

Exercise psychology exercise adherence fitness club exercise professionals

References (35)

  1. 1 Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. [DOI]
  2. 2 Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior [DOI]
  3. 3 World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour [DOI]
  4. 4 Goal setting and task performance: 1969–1980. [DOI]
  5. 5 Development and Initial Validation of a Measure of Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness in Exercise: The Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale [DOI]
  6. 6 The Application of Goal Setting to Sports [DOI]
  7. 7 Testing a self‐determination theory‐based teaching style intervention in the exercise domain [DOI]
  8. 8 Adherence and well-being in overweight and obese patients referred to an exercise on prescription scheme: A self-determination theory perspective [DOI]
  9. 9 Exercise Autonomous Motivation Predicts 3-yr Weight Loss in Women [DOI]
  10. 10 Behavioural treatment strategies improve adherence to lifestyle intervention programmes in adults with obesity: a systematic review and meta‐analysis [DOI]
  11. 11 Motivating elders to initiate and maintain exercise11No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated. [DOI]
  12. 12 Effect of Goal Setting on Motivation and Adherence in a Six‐Week Exercise Program [DOI]
  13. 13 The Problem of Exercise Adherence: Fighting Sloth in Nations With Market Economies [DOI]
  14. 14 Self-Determination Moderates the Effects of Perceived Competence on Intrinsic Motivation in an Exercise Setting [DOI]
  15. 15 Use of a goal setting intervention to increase adherence to low back pain rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial [DOI]
  16. 16 What strategies are effective for exercise adherence in heart failure? A systematic review of controlled studies [DOI]
  17. 17 Is work keeping us from acting healthy? How workplace barriers and facilitators impact nutrition and exercise behaviors [DOI]
  18. 18 A longitudinal, qualitative study exploring sustained adherence to a hand exercise programme for rheumatoid arthritis evaluated in the SARAH trial [DOI]
  19. 19 Enablers and barriers of adherence to home exercise programmes after stroke: caregiver perceptions [DOI]
  20. 20 Self-Efficacy for Coping With Barriers Helps Students Stay Physically Active During Transition to Their First Year at a University [DOI]
  21. 21 Associations between program outcomes and adherence to Social Cognitive Theory tasks: process evaluation of the SHED-IT community weight loss trial for men [DOI]
  22. 22 Overcoming obstacles: collaboration for change [DOI]
  23. 23 Goal Settings Self-Efficacy, and Exercise Behavior [DOI]
  24. 24 GOAL-SETTING PROTOCOL IN ADHERENCE TO EXERCISE BY ITALIAN ADULTS [DOI]
  25. 25 The business of personal training
  26. 26 The Relationship of Internally Directed Behavior to Self-Reinforcement, Self-Esteem, and Expectancy Values for Exercise [DOI]
  27. 27 The Influence of Goal Setting on Exercise Adherence [DOI]
  28. 28 Perception towards Physical Exercise among University Students in Malaysia: A Medico-social Problem [DOI]
  29. 29 Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General [DOI]
  30. 30 Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General [DOI]
  31. 31 European perspectives on exercise and sport psychology [DOI]
  32. 32 Foundations of Exercise Psychology [DOI]
  33. 33 Sport and Exercise Psychology: The Key Concepts [DOI]
  34. 34 Management Strategies in Athletic Training [DOI]
  35. 35 Authority and Legitimacy [DOI]

Cited by 2

Enhancing exercisers’ experience: a comprehensive review of insights from fitness instructors’ behaviour and psychological impact

Ricardo Braga-Pereira, Guilherme Eustáquio Furtado, Francisco Campos · International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · 2025

Showing 1 of 2 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

0

Page views

0

PDF downloads

0

Outbound clicks

2

Citations

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

No views recorded yet.

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

No traffic recorded yet.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.