Young People's Impressions of Older Adults: The Role of Exercise Habit Information

Abstract

This study examined younger adults' impressions of older adults based upon information regarding older adults' exercise habits. Two hundred and forty-six young adults (mean age = 19.89; SD = 1.41) randomly rated a description of a retired older man or woman described as an exerciser, non-exerciser, or control on 18 personality and 9 physical dimensions. Results indicated eight out of eighteen personality and eight of the nine physical dimensions; a MANOVA indicated a significant effect with post hoc tests revealing that exercisers were rated more positively than non-exercisers. The exerciser stereotype emerged regardless of the respondent's self-classified exercise status. These results suggest that young adults form more positive impressions of older adults who exercise. The implications for young and older adults regarding the self-presentational benefits associated with exercise participation are discussed.

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