Exerciser stereotypes: Perceptions and influences on exercise related cognitions

The current study identified eight distinct exercise stereotypes (athletes, runners, older adults, jocks, weightlifters, judgmental girls, overweight individuals, people who do yoga) through a pilot study. An adapted version of the prototype willingness model was then used to determine whether differences exist between exercisers' and non-exercisers' ratings of the eight various exerciser stereotypes. No significant differences were found, which further supports the positive exerciser stereotype. The adapted version of the PWM had large proportions of explained variance. MANOVA analyses showed that overweight individuals and weightlifters differed significantly in their opinions of other exercisers. Overweight individuals had negative ratings towards jocks, athletes and judgmental girls and weightlifters showed negative ratings of yoga participants. Both of these exercisers may benefit from a fitness center absent of these respective exercisers.