By Cathy K. Donovan

The health of people in the military is critical to Jennifer Wilson. As a U.S. Air Force reservist with a husband on active duty, she knows firsthand that fitness matters on and off the battlefield.

Wilson, a psychology major who graduated from Rutgers–Camden on May 21, received two grants to study the best motivators for physical fitness in the air force. Putting one’s life on the line certainly steps up the workouts, but doing it all for the job isn’t always the best motivator.

“This is definitely a hot topic in the military, where fitness programs have been ramped up because of increased overseas contingencies,” says the mother of two from Browns Mills. “There is a need to make programs more efficient.”

Wilson surveyed 130 active duty air force members and found that individuals exercised more frequently when they were motivated by their health, appearance, or mood, but not their military obligations. Those who cited these kinds of motivators also were more likely to reap other psychological benefits from exercise, like satisfaction with their bodies.

“If you’re in the military, your whole career is about being fit. You can get in trouble, even discharged, if you’re not,” says Wilson, a member of the student group, Veterans for Education. “All of the participants had military motive, but if that motive was primary, it became more problematic.”

Charlotte Markey, an associate professor of psychology at Rutgers–Camden, known for her research on body image in various dynamics, worked with Wilson on this study. Markey said their findings will eventually be published.

“Jennifer is a promising young researcher. She is a diligent worker, and she is thoughtful about her area of study. Jen hopes – as do I – that her work will ultimately inform military efforts to improve the health benefits of physical activity among members of the military," Markey says.

Wilson's scholarship at Rutgers–Camden has earned her a host of academic honors, including the Dean's Undergraduate Research Prize, the Faculty Award, and the Athenaeum Honor Society Award.

After graduation, Wilson plans to move with her husband, Tech. Sgt. Efrem Wilson, and their children to Florida, where she intends to pursue a graduate degree. This summer Wilson will continue to work with Markey regarding aspects of the study looking at personality as a factor in determining the degree of fitness benefits.