Date of Award

8-1995

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Robert O. Brinkerhoff

Second Advisor

Dr. Uldis Smidchens

Third Advisor

Dr. Robert Bensley

Abstract

Survey methods were used to evaluate the relationship between the nature and degree of management support provided to corporate fitness programs and employees' participation rates in those programs. A questionnaire requesting information about demographics, participation rates, and supportive management practices in the areas of coaching, modeling, and reinforcing, was sent to representatives of 400 companies. Completed questionnaires representing 157 organizations were returned. Across all respondents, the mean reported level of employee participation in fitness programs was 20.7%; the range was 2 to 67%. The level of employee participation was positively related to the total level of management support (i.e., combined scores across the three areas of coaching, reinforcing, and modeling), coaching by management, and reinforcing by management. No evidence was found for a relationship between modeling by management and participation rates. The participation rates obtained in the present study are consistent with earlier reports documenting relatively low levels of employee participation in fitness programs. The positive relationship between total management support and participation rate provides support for suggestions in the literature that management practices are likely to influence participation rates.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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