Social physique anxiety, pregnancy and exercise : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine SPA and exercise during and after pregnancy. Women enrolled in community ante-natal classes participated in the investigation (Exercisers n = 36; Non-exercisers n = 17). Participants completed the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS), Reasons for Exercise Inventory (REI), Exercise Behaviours and Preferences Scale and a modified Body Esteem Scale, and provided general demographic and exercise data during pregnancy and 6 weeks and 3 months post-pregnancy. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that participant reasons for exercise changed significantly over the course of pregnancy from intrinsic to extrinsic, reflecting self-presentational motives. SPA has been found to be positively related to self-presentational motives in previous research, although significant results were not replicated in this study.