Physical fitness in relation to amount of physical exercise, body image, and locus of control among college men and women.

The relations of amount of exercise, body image, and locus of control to physical fitness were investigated. The Hall Physical Fitness Test Profile, the Winstead and Cash Body Self-relations Questionnaire, and the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale were administered to 243 freshmen. Students estimated the amount of time spent exercising on a 9-point scale ranging from no regular exercise to 10 or more hours per week for the preceding three months. Exercise included brisk walking, jogging, aerobics, and sports activities like soccer, tennis, and swimming. Increased fitness was associated with increased amounts of exercise, internal locus of control, and good body image. There was a statistically significant interaction between sex and amount of exercise. For students who exercised 2-4.9 hours per week, men were more fit than women. Fitness was comparable for men and women exercising less than two hours or at least five hours per week. Women had to exercise 5 or more hours weekly to achieve the fitness level of men who exercised 2 to 4.9 hours per week.