title: Implicit theories of the body among college women: implications for physical activity.
abstract: This study explored the relationship between implicit theories of the body (ITB) and self-reported physical activity. ITB are beliefs about the malleability of the body. Individuals may hold entity ITB (that body appearance is fixed) or incremental ITB (that body appearance can be changed). Female undergraduate students (N = 313) completed an online survey assessing ITB, physical activity, and discrepancy between actual and ideal body weight. Participants endorsing incremental ITB reported more physical activity. A significant ITB by weight discrepancy interaction emerged. Developing interventions targeting implicit theories of the body may be one way to increase physical activity.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health, USA kaufmana@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Annette R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences, Bronx Community College, City University of New York, USA.
authors.forename: Brandi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: exercise; implicit theories; physical activity; weight discrepancy