This thesis, comprising two studies, investigated whether negative expectations and self-perceptions relating to the aging process are associated with less physical activity (Study 1), and whether less active adults are likely to report age as a cause for physical activity failure than more active adults (Study 2). Using Sarkisian et al.’s (2002) Expectations Regarding Aging (ERA-38) survey, Study 1 first developed reliable and valid sub-factors for constructs relating to general aging expectations (GAE) and aging self-perceptions (ASP) by conducting exploratory factor analyses on 167 adults (M age = 59.5). Results revealed three acceptable GAE sub-factors relating to satisfaction/contentment, physical function and cognitive function, and three ASP sub-factors pertaining to functional, social, and sexual health. Subsequent MANOVA analyses showed that active adults reported higher GAE for satisfaction/contentment and cognitive function than less active adults. Regression analyses revealed that physical activity levels positively predicted satisfaction/contentment and physical function expectations among 45-54 yr olds. In Study 2, 177 adults (M age = 60.1) completed our Causal Dimension Scale for Aging (CDSA) and a survey asking whether age was a likely cause of failure in various physical activity contexts. Responses on the CDSA were used to validate ‘General Attributions towards Age’ (GATA), a measure which captured how adults view the aging effects. Subsequent analyses of variance determined that GATA interacted with physical activity status (active, less active) to influence the reported likelihood of age as a cause for failure. Less active adults with stable/uncontrollable GATA reported greater likelihood of age as a cause for failure than all other groups in gym, recreational/community program, and unstructured/spontaneous activity settings. Separate age group analyses indicated that these trends were pronounced in an unstructured/spontaneous activity setting for 45-54 yr olds, and in a generally recently inactive scenario for 55-64 yrs.

This thesis, comprising two studies, investigated whether negative expectations and self-perceptions relating to the aging process are associated with less physical activity (Study 1), and whether less active adults are likely to report age as a cause for physical activity failure than more active adults (Study 2). Using Sarkisian et al.’s (2002) Expectations Regarding Aging (ERA-38) survey, Study 1 first developed reliable and valid sub-factors for constructs relating to general aging expectations (GAE) and aging self-perceptions (ASP) by conducting exploratory factor analyses on 167 adults (M age = 59.5). Results revealed three acceptable GAE sub-factors relating to satisfaction/contentment, physical function and cognitive function, and three ASP sub-factors pertaining to functional, social, and sexual health. Subsequent MANOVA analyses showed that active adults reported higher GAE for satisfaction/contentment and cognitive function than less active adults. Regression analyses revealed that physical activity levels positively predicted satisfaction/contentment and physical function expectations among 45-54 yr olds. In Study 2, 177 adults (M age = 60.1) completed our Causal Dimension Scale for Aging (CDSA) and a survey asking whether age was a likely cause of failure in various physical activity contexts. Responses on the CDSA were used to validate ‘General Attributions towards Age’ (GATA), a measure which captured how adults view the aging effects. Subsequent analyses of variance determined that GATA interacted with physical activity status (active, less active) to influence the reported likelihood of age as a cause for failure. Less active adults with stable/uncontrollable GATA reported greater likelihood of age as a cause for failure than all other groups in gym, recreational/community program, and unstructured/spontaneous activity settings. Separate age group analyses indicated that these trends were pronounced in an unstructured/spontaneous activity setting for 45-54 yr olds, and in a generally recently inactive scenario for 55-64 yrs.

This thesis, comprising two studies, investigated whether negative expectations and self-perceptions relating to the aging process are associated with less physical activity (Study 1), and whether less active adults are likely to report age as a cause for physical activity failure than more active adults (Study 2). Using Sarkisian et al.’s (2002) Expectations Regarding Aging (ERA-38) survey, Study 1 first developed reliable and valid sub-factors for constructs relating to general aging expectations (GAE) and aging self-perceptions (ASP) by conducting exploratory factor analyses on 167 adults (M age = 59.5). Results revealed three acceptable GAE sub-factors relating to satisfaction/contentment, physical function and cognitive function, and three ASP sub-factors pertaining to functional, social, and sexual health. Subsequent MANOVA analyses showed that active adults reported higher GAE for satisfaction/contentment and cognitive function than less active adults. Regression analyses revealed that physical activity levels positively predicted satisfaction/contentment and physical function expectations among 45-54 yr olds. In Study 2, 177 adults (M age = 60.1) completed our Causal Dimension Scale for Aging (CDSA) and a survey asking whether age was a likely cause of failure in various physical activity contexts. Responses on the CDSA were used to validate ‘General Attributions towards Age’ (GATA), a measure which captured how adults view the aging effects. Subsequent analyses of variance determined that GATA interacted with physical activity status (active, less active) to influence the reported likelihood of age as a cause for failure. Less active adults with stable/uncontrollable GATA reported greater likelihood of age as a cause for failure than all other groups in gym, recreational/community program, and unstructured/spontaneous activity settings. Separate age group analyses indicated that these trends were pronounced in an unstructured/spontaneous activity setting for 45-54 yr olds, and in a generally recently inactive scenario for 55-64 yrs.

This thesis, comprising two studies, investigated whether negative expectations and self-perceptions relating to the aging process are associated with less physical activity (Study 1), and whether less active adults are likely to report age as a cause for physical activity failure than more active adults (Study 2). Using Sarkisian et al.’s (2002) Expectations Regarding Aging (ERA-38) survey, Study 1 first developed reliable and valid sub-factors for constructs relating to general aging expectations (GAE) and aging self-perceptions (ASP) by conducting exploratory factor analyses on 167 adults (M age = 59.5). Results revealed three acceptable GAE sub-factors relating to satisfaction/contentment, physical function and cognitive function, and three ASP sub-factors pertaining to functional, social, and sexual health. Subsequent MANOVA analyses showed that active adults reported higher GAE for satisfaction/contentment and cognitive function than less active adults. Regression analyses revealed that physical activity levels positively predicted satisfaction/contentment and physical function expectations among 45-54 yr olds. In Study 2, 177 adults (M age = 60.1) completed our Causal Dimension Scale for Aging (CDSA) and a survey asking whether age was a likely cause of failure in various physical activity contexts. Responses on the CDSA were used to validate ‘General Attributions towards Age’ (GATA), a measure which captured how adults view the aging effects. Subsequent analyses of variance determined that GATA interacted with physical activity status (active, less active) to influence the reported likelihood of age as a cause for failure. Less active adults with stable/uncontrollable GATA reported greater likelihood of age as a cause for failure than all other groups in gym, recreational/community program, and unstructured/spontaneous activity settings. Separate age group analyses indicated that these trends were pronounced in an unstructured/spontaneous activity setting for 45-54 yr olds, and in a generally recently inactive scenario for 55-64 yrs.