Identifying age-related stereotypes: Exercising with older adults

Kinesiology students represent a group of future professionals who might work with older adults in an exercise environment. These encounters may also be affected by the presence of age-related stereotypes. To identify these beliefs, kinesiology students (N = 22) provided two written reflections on a group of older adults participating in an exercise program. The students' first response was written after viewing a 13-minute video of older individuals' exercising; the second response occurred after their active exercise participation with the older adults. Thematic, qualitative analysis of the data suggested the students' stereotypes concerning the exercise behavior of the older adults.