We've all probably heard about the importance of social support when trying to get or stay active. Having a friend to walk with, a spouse who makes dinner while you work out , or a group fitness instructor who knows you by name can make being active a lot easier. A recent study by Vrazel and colleagues found that three types of social support most often positively affect women's participation in physical activity.

Vrazel and colleagues identified emotional, tangible, and informational support as types of social support that positively influence women's physical activity. Emotional support includes encouragement from important people in your social network. Tangible support involves receiving material aid or assistance from someone else. Informational support refers to advice, counseling, or information you receive to help you become more active. The social support women receive for physical activity actually often involves a combination of emotional, tangible, and informational support.

What does this mean for you?

Think about what kind of support you need to help you stay physically active. Do you need encouragement from others to help you stay active? If yes, identify someone in your social network who can exercise with you and provide you with emotional support. Do you need an extra 30 minutes during your lunch hour or someone to prepare dinner or watch the kids in order for you to be active? If yes, talk to your boss about reorganizing your hours, and have a discussion with your significant other in regards to what you need from them. Such discussions can help you obtain the tangible support you need to be active. Finally, do you need information or suggestions on how to be physically active? Hiring a personal trainer, attending a group fitness class, subscribing to a fitness magazine (see our recommendations on the Fitness page under Support), or joining Fit Minded are all great ways to attain informational support. Take a few moments to write down what support you need to be active. Then brainstorm a few ways for you to access this support.

Vrazel, J., Saunders, R.P., & Wilcox, S. (2008). An overview and proposed framework of social-environmental influences on the physical activity behavior of women. American Journal of Health Promotion, 23(1), 2-12.