Association of Exercise Counselors' Sex with Exercise Session Attendance in Women Enrolled in a Cognitive Behavioral Treatment System

Abstract

Attendance rates from two groups incorporating a cognitive behavioral treatment system (male counselor group, n = 53; female counselor group, n = 56) and a control group using standard methods of exercise counseling ( n = 56) were contrasted with new and returning female exercisers (overall M age = 40 yr.). Analysis of variance with follow-up Scheffé tests indicated significantly greater attendance for the treatment groups (54 and 58%) than for the control group (37%) over 6 months. No significant difference between the treatment groups was found. Findings suggest that the sex of exercise counselors does not appear to influence attendance of exercise sessions.