Does Similarity Make a Difference? Predicting Cohesion and Attendance Behaviors Within Exercise Group Settings

In this study, we assessed the ability of perceptual surface-level (i.e., observable qualities such as age and physical condition) and deep-level (i.e., nonobservable qualities such as attitudes and values) similarity to predict cohesion and attendance within exercise groups. Following the 2nd class of their respective programs, participants (N 273) from 46 registered group-based exercise programs completed perceptual measures of surface-level similarity, deep-level similarity, social cohesion, and task cohesion. Following the 8th class of these programs, attendance data were collected. Perceptions of deep-level similarity were found to predict task cohesion. In contrast, perceptions of surface-level similarity were found to predict social cohesion and program attendance. Taken together, these results suggest that perceptions of surface-level and deep-level similarity may have noteworthy implications for involvement within group-based exercise programs.