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group exercise
You know that gut-twisting feeling you get when you find yourself being the only person standing in a crowd of people sitting in their seats, or the feeling you get when you’re late to class and all eyes are on you, almost as if you’re being judged? What if I told you that science has found a way to weaponize this phenomenon to force physical activity on us? Well obviously not true, but research from Street and Avenell (2022) has found group interventions that include physical activity and the monitoring of the diet can be more effective in long-term weight loss in adults with obesity than individual interventions.
GROUP EXERCISE & ANXIETY
As the saying “there is strength in numbers” goes, the same can be said in group exercise and combatting anxiety. Patterson et. al (2021) conducted an experiment observing the effects social networks and group exercises have on college students. In their findings, it was found that there is a positive association between group exercise and lower anxiety levels. Factors include a POSITIVE and SUPPORTIVE environment, a sense of belonging, and the ability to socialize. It was acknowledged in the study that rivalry or compulsive behavior to exercise-induced by pressure CAN cause anxiety within these groups. However, this serves only to highlight the importance of a positive environment. Group exercises can include, but are not limited to:
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Yoga
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Walking/jogging/running
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Gym sessions
SOCIAL NETWORKS
In the same vein as group exercise lowering anxiety levels, the presence of multiple people in a positively charged environment can lead to the development of new social networks. According to Patterson et. al (2021), the development of new relationships can provide new-found support and resources that otherwise wouldn’t have been available beforehand. In addition, it was found that social networks and participation in group exercises are important to college students and their management of anxiety levels. Who knows, maybe your other half is a simple sign-up for an exercise class away! Luckily for UNLV students, there is Fitness4Finals, which holds physical activities for students during study week! Social networking opportunities can include but are not limited to:
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Rock-climbing at Red Rock
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University clubs
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Local gym group classes
references
Patterson, M. S., Gagnon, L. R., Vukelich, A., Brown, S., Nelon, J. L., & Prochnow, T
(2021). Social networks, group exercise, and anxiety among college students.
Journal of American College Health, 69(4), 361–369.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2019.1679150
Street, S. C. J., & Avenell, A. (2022). Are individual or group interventions more
effective for long‐term weight loss in adults with obesity? A systematic review.
Clinical Obesity, 12(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12539
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