Exercising impressive impressions: the exercise stereotype in male targets

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the exercise stereotype and the non-exerciser stereotype on male targets, and the moderating effects of impression motivation in 184 female and 73 male Swedish undergraduate students. The participants read a description of one of the following male targets: a typical exerciser, an active living target, an excessive exerciser, a non-exerciser, or a control target, and then rated these targets on 12 personality (e.g. lazy-hard worker, dependent-independent) and eight physical (e.g. scrawny-muscular, sick-healthy) dimensions. They also completed the Impression Motivation scale of the Self-Presentation in Exercise Questionnaire, measuring motivation to self-present as an exerciser. MANCOVAs demonstrated a significant main effect for both personality and physical attributes (P<0.05). Overall, the typical exerciser, the active living target, and the excessive targets received more positive ratings than, in particular the non-exerciser target but also the control target. The non-exerciser target was rated less favorably compared with the control target. The impression motivation of the participants moderated the exercise status/rating relationship for the physical but not the personality attributes. The results of the study are discussed in the context of gender and cultural aspects of the exercise stereotype phenomenon.

Can exercise change the stereotypes associated with individuals with cancer?

“…Whatever the health status of the targets, we observed that being an exerciser elicited higher perceived competence and warmth compared with the non‐exercising targets and the control targets. These findings are consistent with previous research on the exerciser stereotype (e.g., Martin et al., ; Martin Ginis & Leary, ; Lindwall & Ginis, ). For instance, Martin et al.…”

“…In terms of the meaningfulness of the results, the effect sizes concerning the competence dimension were comparable with those of previous studies on the exerciser stereotype (e.g., Lindwall & Ginis, ). But overall, the effect sizes were quite modest.…”

“…In addition to the evidence of an exerciser stereotype, evidence of a non‐exerciser stereotype has also been demonstrated. Lindwall and Ginis () found that a non‐exercising target was rated as lazier and lacking self‐control to a greater extent than a control target. In other words, while raters tend to positively bias typical exercisers, they also may negatively bias non‐exercising targets in comparison with control targets.…”

Effects of Physical Activity and Inactivity on Muscle Fatigue

“…However, in athletic populations, the importance of lower intensity–high-volume training should not be overlooked. Laursen (2010) in a critical review of low and high volume and intensity training suggested that training for sports performance should have an appropriate blend of both HIT and high-volume training, otherwise performance ability can stagnate. A polarized approach for optimal intensity distribution for the training of elite athletes of intense events (rowing, swimming, track running, and cycling) was suggested by Laursen (2010), whereby 75% of total training volume should be performed at low intensities, and 10–15% should be performed at very high intensities.…”

“…At the same time, the “energy crisis” that results in decreased ATP and increased adenosine mono phosphate (AMP) activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (Gibala, 2009; Laursen, 2010). Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), possibly via increase generation of ROS may also be involved (Gibala et al, 2012).…”