Effects of social context on handgrip strength performance among less active people living with HIV

Description

Effects of social context on handgrip strength performance among less active people living with HIV Despite the multiple benefits of physical activity (PA) people living with HIV (PLHIV) remain insufficiently active. As nonexercisers are perceived as less healthy, less active and less strong, it is likely that PLHIV would be subject to the social context they are exposed to. Based on the stereotype threat theory, this study looked to explain the effect of the emerging nonexerciser stereotype on handgrip strength performance among less active PLHIV. We also looked to observe the moderating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between stereotype activation and performance. Eighteen PLHIV were recruited to participate in two experimental sessions in which both a stereotypical context and self-efficacy were manipulated. Participants performed, in two randomized testing sessions (i.e., high self-efficacy and low self-efficacy), a handgrip task comprising a 15-s fatiguing maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) exercise preceded (Pre) and followed (Post) by 5-s MVCs. In each session four experimental conditions (i.e., Control 1; Control 2; Stereotypical; Self-Efficacy) were performed. A significant performance decrease of the 15-s fatiguing MVC exercise was systematically observed when the nonexerciser stereotype was induced (0.01

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