The statement that is TRUE about group exercise is:
It gained popularity in the 1980s with the aerobics craze.
The other options provided are not accurate or true regarding group exercise. Group exercise classes often foster a supportive environment and can be motivating; they are not generally considered less effective than exercising alone. Positive reinforcement is typically more effective than negative reinforcement, and group exercise as a concept developed over time, not specifically credited to Otto Kohler in the 1920s.