A Study of Self-Presentational Variables in Excercise Settings Among Older Women

Abstract

<p>Self-presentation (SP) is the process individuals use to control the perceptions others have of them (Leary, 1995: Leary & Kowalski, 1990). Research suggests that self-presentation plays a role in older adults' exercise participation and beliefs about the appropriateness of exercise and exercise clothing for older people (Martin et al. 2000). The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate how SP variables relate to exercise-related attitudes, motives, and the exercise environment among older women.</p> <p>Study 1 evaluated the reliability and validity of measures of physical self-perceptions and exercise motives (N=40; M age=68.22). The Social Physique anxiety Scale (Hart et al. 1989) and the Reasons for exercise Inventory (Silberstein. et. al.. 1988) were found to be reliable and valid when used in a sample of older women. In addition, while fitness motives were of primary importance to older women, self-presentational concerns (i.e., social physique anxiety [SPA]) were related to self-presentational motives for exercise suggesting that for some women, SP is an issue in exercise contexts.</p> <p>In Study 2, the moderating effects of SPA and physical activity) PA on attitude towards different exercise environments were examined. Overall, women's (N = 81: M age = 70.85 years) attitudes toward conservative and revealing exercise attire environments were not significantly different. However, PA level, but not SPA, moderated their preferences such that for the revealing attire condition, as PA decreased, attitudes toward the exercise setting also decreased. As well, women's confidence in their ability to present themselves as exercsers (i.e., self-presentational efficacy, SPE) was not differentially affected across the two video conditions. However, SPA. but not PA level, moderated the effect of the videos on SPE such that for the revealing condition, as SPA increased. SPE decreased. Taken together, this research has expanded our knowledge concerning the role that self-presentation plays in exercise settings among older women. Furthermore, consideration of the exercise environment, self-presentational concerns, and physical activity level is recommended when developing exercise programs that older women will feel comfortable initiating and maintaining throughout their years.</p>