Abstract
This study examined whether exposing individuals to an age-morphed image of their future selves has positive impacts on physical activity and healthy eating intentions depending on the level of self-esteem. In this study, a 2 (type of future self: age-morphed image vs. simple imagination of future self) × 2 (self-esteem: low vs. high) experimental design was used, where the type of future self was manipulated while self-esteem was measured. The results suggested that individuals with high self-esteem exposed to future selves via age-morphing technology more concretely perceived their future selves and thus showed greater intention to engage in physical activity in the future than those who simply imagined their future selves. Meanwhile, the positive effects of an age-morphed image on future intention to engage in physical activity were not found for low self-esteem individuals. Moreover, the age-morphing technology did not impact individuals’ healthy eating intentions.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Hyo Jin Kang
Hyo Jin Kang is a graduate student in the College of Sport Science at the Sunkyunkwan University. Her research focuses on how the use of face-morphing technology impacts individuals’ health-related behaviors.
Gong Zhuo
Gong Zhuo is a graduate student in the College of Sport Science at the Sungkyunkwan University. Her research focuses on consumers’ decision making for new technological products in the context of sports.
Wonseok Jang
Wonseok Jang is an associate professor in the College of Sport Science at the Sungkyunkwan University. His research focuses on human–artificial intelligence interaction in the context of sports.