SENSATION SEEKING - PREOCCUPATION WITH DIET AND EXERCISE REGIMENS

The present study examined the hypothesis that sensation seeking correlates with (a) preoccupations about body weight and (b) the regimentation of exercise programs and diet. A sample of 55 female aerobic exercise class participants were given the Aerobic Exercise Questionnaire II, and scales for Sensation Seeking, Obsessive Compulsive Behavior and Restrained Eating. Two Aerobic Exercise Questionnaire II subscales (Preoccupation With Weight and Regimentation of Exercise) were defined by factor analysis. The results indicated that sensation seeking and obsessive compulsive scale scores were negatively correlated. Anomalous sensation seeking scale scores obtained for those individuals who scored above the mean on both of the Aerobic Exercise Questionnaire II subscales suggested socially desirable responding. © 1990.