Implicit and Explicit Exercise and Sedentary Identity

We examined the relationship between implicit and explicit “exerciser” and “sedentary” self-identity when activated by stereotypes. Undergraduate participants (N = 141) wrote essays about university students who either liked to exercise or engage in sedentary activities. This was followed by an implicit identity task and an explicit measure of exercise self-identity. Results showed that implicit and explicit exerciser identities were not highly correlated. There were also no significant prime effects, but women showed greater implicit sedentary identity, whereas men showed greater implicit exercise identity. This research suggests that implicit exercise-related identity is a distinct construct from explicit exercise identity. The results also reflect responses to societal pressures for women to be thin and for men to be strong, when free of self-presentational bias.

Key words:

• exercise
• implicit processes
• priming
• sedentary lifestyle

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tanya R. Berry

Please address correspondence concerning this article to Tanya R. Berry, E4-88 Van Vliet Centre, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H9