Agism in a Physicsl Activity Context Flashcards
Ageism in the fitness
and health industry?
Self-imposed ageism:
Associating their physical and mental changes to their age and as a result a decline in physical activity
Ageism in the fitness
and health industry?
Externalizations hypothesis in self impose Agism
having this view of aging. You believe it is normals to be tired, and slow. It’s a way to deal with age related changes . If older adult believe everything decline with the age, they will view the same with physical activity. “It’s normal I can’t skate”
Ageism in the fitness
and health industry?
Other-directed ageism
he majority of studies indicated that older adults have experienced
stereotyping and/or discrimination because of their age when
engaging in exercise or interacting with exercise professionals, health
professionals, and family members because of their age.
Other-directed ageism
Example of Family members and Friends in (Jin & Harvey, 2021)
E.g. family members and friends of older women have questioned the
legitimacy of the older women participating in physically demanding
sports such as volleyball. (Kirby & Kluge, 2013)
Other-directed ageism
Example of physicians in (Jin & Harvey, 2021)
E.g. physicians are less likely to recommend exercise to older adults with osteoarthritis or they only recommend low-moderate intensity (Austin et
al., 2013)
Other-directed ageism
Example of undergraduate kin students in (Jin & Harvey, 2021)
E.g. undergraduate kin students more likely to recommend “enjoyable
exercises” for older adults and not as willing to recommend physically
challenging exercises (more power and strength focused) (Bocksnick &
Dyck, 2018)
Theme 1: “Age has nothing to do with it”
(Massie & Meisner, 2019)
Stereotypes of Aging and Physical Activity
Concept: Participants believed stereotypes about aging led them to use “being too old” as an excuse to avoid leisure-time physical activity (LTPA).
Example: P12 illustrated: ‘I hear, “Oh poor me, I’m getting old” or
“I can’t lose weight because I’m old” or “I can’t go for a long walk
because I’m old” or “No, I can’t get back on my bicycle, I’m too old”
Theme 1: “Age has nothing to do with it”
(Massie & Meisner, 2019)
Impact of Aging Beliefs on LTPA
Aging expectations and beliefs that portray older adults as declining or inactive reduce interest and perceived feasibility of participating in moderate to vigorous LTPA in later life.
Theme 1: “Age has nothing to do with it” (Massie & Meisner, 2019)
How do aging expectations and stereotypes influence older adults’ participation in physical activities?
Stereotypes of aging often discourage older adults from engaging in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) by reinforcing beliefs that they are “too old” or incapable. This affects their leisure interests and the perceived feasibility of moderate to vigorous activity in later life.
How do participants in Massie & Meisner’s study differentiate their beliefs about aging from societal views?
Participants had more positive, affirming beliefs about aging compared to the negative views they believed society held. P5, for example, realized that age wasn’t the reason for fitness difficulties, but rather inactivity over time, which could be overcome with effort.
Theme 2: “But they do treat us different here”
(Massie & Meisner, 2019)
Negative forms of ageism:
“When we go on these long bike trips, people keep telling us that it’s, kind of like, not ‘normal’ at our age…”
“Don’t you think it’s time now that you went down to one [step riser]?”
Theme 2: “But they do treat us different here”
(Massie & Meisner, 2019)
Positive forms of ageism:
Moments when older adults were praised for higher-intensity LTPA.
Participants expressed confusion or frustration about how uncommon their activity levels are seen by others.
Theme 3: “Why don’t we have an exercise class?”
(Massie & Meisner, 2019)
Available leisure and recreation opportunities for older adults with higher physical functioning were often nonexistent, unappealing, or inappropriate.
Theme 3: “Why don’t we have an exercise
class?” (Massie & Meisner, 2019)
Generating LTPA
Participants had to create their own leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and recreation opportunities due to lack of suitable options.
