Social comparison in aerobic exercise classes propositions for analyzing motives and participation

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Abstract
Social comparison theory, which suggests that humans are compelled to compare themselves with others, has rarely been addressed in the leisure literature. However, the use of social comparison theory may be particularly relevant for the study of leisure behavior, especially in highly social environments such as aerobic exercise classes. In this article, we suggest 14 propositions that evolve from a review of social comparison theory and literature on exercise classes. The propositions are grouped under the following headings: self‐motives of social comparison, involvement and social comparison, cultural aspects of social comparison for women and men, and media images and social comparisons. The propositions suggest that social comparisons occur in exercise classes and that these comparisons affect and are affected by level of participation and type of recreational experience. We suggest also that the specific forms of social comparisons that occur are related to cultural factors and are influenced by gender and by the media. The propositions are intended to stimulate and guide empirical research related to social comparison theory in the context of leisure behavior.