The Relationships among Network Centrality, Psychological Well-being, and Intention to Exercise Maintenance in Participants of an Aquatic Exercise Program

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships among network centrality, psychological well-being (PWBS), and intention to exercise maintenance in participants of an aquatic exercise program. Methods: Using a single-experimental design, 17 osteoarthritis patients participated in an aquatic exercise program. The questionnaire to connect the network of members was used to peer nomination by Moreno (1953). Data were analyzed with the UCINET using centrality (degree, closeness, betweenness) and SPSS using descriptive statistics, wilcoxon signed ranked test, and spearman's rho. Results: Closeness centrality, PWBS, and intention to exercise maintenance were significantly different between 4 weeks and 8 weeks. At 4 weeks, PWBS was positively correlated with closeness centrality. Intention to exercise maintenance was positively correlated with degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality. At 8 weeks, PWBS was positively correlated with closeness centrality. Intention to exercise maintenance was positively correlated with closeness centrality. Conclusion: The aquatic exercise program can be effective in increasing closeness centrality, psychological well-being, and intention to exercise maintenance. This was the first study attempted to analyze construction of member relationships in osteoarthritis patients participating an exercise program by using social network analysis.