Change in Confidence for Overcoming Exercise Barriers in men and Women Over 6 Months

Background: The idea of coping with barriers to enhance exercise adherence has been well addressed, yet little is known about differences between men’s and women’s confidence for overcoming specific barriers, and how this might change with exercise experience among initiates. Methods: A sample of 63 previously sedentary adults (nmen=23; nwomen=40) completed assessments of confidence for overcoming 9 exercise barriers at baseline and after 3 months of exercise. Exercise frequency was objectively assessed. Findings: RMANOVA revealed significant main effects of time (Eta2p=.049, p<.1), and barrier Eta2p=.663, p<.001, and a multivariate sex x time x barrier interaction (Eta2p=.313, p<.006) such that women’s confidence decreased more than men on 8 of 9 barriers over 3 months. Discussion: Women seem to lose confidence for motivational barriers (e.g., I don’t feel like it) faster than men. Barrier specific intervention strategies could be developed for men and women separately.