Social Identity and Adherence Behavior in Older Adult Group-Based Exercise

The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the relationship between social identity and exercise adherence among older adults. Eighty group-based older adult exercise class attendees (Mage = 68.00) completed a baseline questionnaire assessing the three dimensions of social identification (ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, ingroup affect) with their exercise class, and recorded their exercise class attendance using a logbook over a four-month period. Results highlighted in-group affect as a significant predictor of exercise class adherence, meaning older adults who reported positive feelings and emotions associated with their exercise class membership were also more likely to attend class across time.