Social networks, group exercise, and anxiety among college students.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between group exercise membership, social network characteristics, and general state anxiety in a sample of college students. 490 undergraduates from a private university in the southern US participated in the study. An egocentric network analysis was conducted to test whether demographic variables, leisure-time physical activity, group exercise membership, flourishing scores, and network variables were related to anxiety. Regression analyses ( = .174,  = 7.650, < .0001) suggest group exercise membership ( = -.105, = .034) and flourishing scores ( = -.342, < .0001) were related to lower anxiety scores, while being a racial/ethnic minority ( = .094, = .036), and having personal networks composed of more people who exercise often ( = .100, = .025), were related to higher anxiety scores in this sample. Findings suggest a connection between group exercise membership, activity habits of peers, and anxiety. Encouraging group exercise participation could be an effective way of combating anxiety for college students.