Effects of a cognitive behavioral treatment protocol on the drop-out rates of exercise participants in 17 YMCA facilities of six cities

The effects of a treatment system, based on tenets of cognitive behavioral and social cognitive theory, were estimated using case studies conducted in 17 fitness facilities of six regional associations of the YMCA. Significant reductions in drop-out rates of new and returning exercisers were found for the treatment groups (ns=30 to 124; M drop out=38.9%, SD=9.5) compared to the control groups (ns=36 to 175; M drop out=62.9%, SD=6.4) over the 6-mo. times. Treatment effect sizes, by facility, ranged from small to large (phi=.10 to .43). Findings were consistent with previous research on earlier versions of the present treatment system conducted both within YMCAs and different fitness and wellness venues in the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy. Design limitations and the need for replication were discussed.