Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Men's Social Support In The Hockey Fans In Training Weight Loss And Healthy Lifestyle Program, Ryan S. Scott

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) is a gender-sensitized weight loss and healthy lifestyle program for overweight and obese male hockey fans, consisting of a 12-week active phase followed by a 40-week maintenance phase. Following program completion, interviews and focus groups were conducted to explore the social support given and received by the men involved in Hockey FIT. A social cognitive model was used to illustrate how social support arising from group cohesiveness, friendly competition, family, and peers impacted self-esteem (characterized by accepting strengths, gaining a sense of belonging, and gaining a sense of accomplishment), which in turn produced positive …