Interactive Effects of Exercise Status and Observer Gender on the Impressions Formed of Men

The present study was designed to examine whether men and women differ in the impressions they form of men based on exercise status. Male and female participants (N = 183) rated a male exercise or control target on both physical and personality variables. Analysis of the physical characteristics revealed a significant condition by gender interaction where male participants rated the control target as significantly less fit (as compared to the exercise target) than did female participants. Analyses also revealed exercise status main effects for both physical and personality characteristics; exercisers were viewed in a more positive light than control targets. The present findings revealed that exercise status might have differential effects on impression formation depending on the gender of the people who are forming the impression.