Doctoral Student's Research Adds Depth to Interplay of Exercise, Self-Perception

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A study by Tina Penhollow, a University of Arkansas doctoral student, has been published in the latest volume of the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality.

Penhollow’s study, “Sexual Desirability and Sexual Performance: Does Exercise and Fitness Really Matter?” deals with how exercise affects sexual self-esteem and self-perception — a topic that hasn’t been researched in the same depth as the actual benefits of exercise.

 “Much of the research that has been done has focused on sexual satisfaction, and desired frequency of sexual behavior due to improvements in physiological functioning as a result of exercise,” Penhollow said. “There’s plenty of research out there on the health benefits of fitness, but not much research into how exercise can improve perceptions of oneself sexually.”

Penhollow is a Doctoral Academy Fellow in the UA health science program. She worked with Michael Young, University Professor of health science, on the research paper. The journal can be accessed at www.ejhs.org.

The study found that college students who exercise frequently and see themselves as physically fit are more likely to rate themselves higher with regard to sexual performance and sexual desirability than those who exercise less and don’t rate themselves as fit.

“This study supports the notion that exercise may go beyond its traditional role as protective factor and enhance individuals’ sexual self-esteem,” Penhollow said.

Young said he was invited a few years ago to be the keynote speaker at a seminar held the night before a marathon. He was scheduled to speak on the topic of sex and running fitness.

“The organizers assumed there would be a great deal of research on the topic indicating that runners and others who were highly fit would be more attractive sexually and be better performers, and that I would be able to organize and summarize that for the attendees,” he said. “But the research just wasn’t there. One of the things Tina’s research does is add to the body of knowledge, confirming to some degree what we think we have known all along.”

While the research results were mostly predictable, they did reveal some surprises. The data showed that self-ratings actually decreased among women who exercised six to seven days per week, compared to those who reported exercising four to five days per week. Eighty-eight percent of women who exercised four to five days per week rated their sexual performance as above average or much above average. Nearly 60 percent reported themselves as about average with regard to sexual desirability.

While none of the women who exercised six or seven days per week rated themselves negatively with regard to sexual desirability, more than a third of them rated their sexual desirability as about average. The same trend appeared for women’s self-ratings of sexual performance.

“Perhaps these women who reported themselves to be about average or below average with regard to sexual desirability or performance, despite intensive exercise, display a negative body image,” she said. “Women who exhibit a negative self-perception may not feel overly sexually desirable or think they perform well sexually.” 

Penhollow wasn’t surprised that exercise generally increased the participants’ perceptions of themselves sexually, but she was surprised by some of the numbers she found. For example, all men who exercised six to seven days per week rated their sexual desirability as above average or much above average. Of the men who reported their fitness level to be much above average, more than 90 percent rated both their sexual performance and sexual desirability as above average or much above average.

  “Those are some really high percentages,” she said. “I didn’t realize just how significant these results would be.”

For her research, Penhollow surveyed 408 undergraduate students. Four of the questions focused specifically on exercise frequency, perceived fitness, self perceptions of sexual desirability and sexual performance. For the exercise frequency data, participants chose from four answers ranging from exercising less than one day per week to exercising six or seven days per week. For perceived fitness, sexual desirability and sexual performance, subjects were asked to rate their levels using a range from much below average to much above average.

Penhollow said college students were chosen for the study because their age group has been shown to be most likely to be sexually active. Since exercise has positive implications regardless of age, she expects similar results would arise from older populations as well.

Penhollow acknowledged some of the limitations of the study.

“The participants consisted of a convenience sample of undergraduate students enrolled in health science classes,” she said. “As a result, the findings may not be generalizable to the university population or youth of similar ages not enrolled in college.”

Penhollow said she hopes her line of research will give people more incentive to exercise, beyond the health benefits. She is in the process of studying how fitness affects body image and sexual satisfaction.