Adolescent Physical Activity and Perceived Competence: Does Change in Activity Level Impact Self-Perception?

Abstract

Purpose-To determine whether change in physical activity level impacts adolescents' selfperceptions.Methods-Using questionnaire responses from the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) in 1997 and 1999, we evaluated data from 5,260 girls and 3,410 boys. Physical activity changes were compared to changes in perceived competence in 3 domains (social, athletic, and scholastic) as well as in global self-worth. Analyses controlled for sibling clustering as well as for potential confounders, including body mass index, cigarette smoking, baseline activity levels, and baseline self-perception scores.Results-For girls and boys, increase in physical activity was positively associated with change in social and athletic (p<0.0001), but not scholastic or global. self-perception. Compared to those with little or no change in activity, those who increased physical activity were more likely to have increased self-perception measures. Girls who increased physical activity by 5 or more hours/week were at least 33% more likely to have increased social self-perception, and at least 44% more likely to have increased athletic self-perception. In boys, those who increased activity by 10 or more hours/week were 45% more likely to have increased social self-perception. The reverse was also true; for both girls and boys, those with decreased physical activity were more likely to have decreased selfperception scores.Conclusions-This research indicates that increased physical activity has a positive impact on athletic and social self-perception in girls and boys.

Autodeterminação de adolescentes em diferentes estágios de mudança para o exercício físico

“…Os benefícios da prática de exercícios físicos são importantes quando se trata de qualidade de vida, prevenção de doenças, estética e manutenção da saúde, tanto física (CDC, 2008) quanto mental (STEIN et al, 2007). No entanto a aderência dos jovens às práticas de exercícios físicos tem preocupado pesquisadores de diversas áreas.…”

Social Competence and Obesity in Teenagers: An Analysis of the Last Ten Years of Studies

“…For these studies, the greater the social competence, the lower the BMI [24] [27]. Two studies have found that adolescents who have increased the frequency of physical activity also increased the level of social competence and reduced the BMI [16] [18] showing that actions directed to these aspects are useful together. The use of media was also associated with social competence and obesity: the more time the obese adolescents spend in front of the TV, the worse their level of social competence [22].…”

“…Health Sedentary lifestyle, social competence and obesity (n = 2). Adolescents above the weight that increase the frequency of physical activity also increase the level of social competence for self-perception and self-esteem [16] [18]. In spite of this, Laberge, Bush and Chagnon [16] found that obese adolescents that have increased the frequency of physical activity had no significant difference in social competence in general or in self-control.…”

Two-Year Follow-up of an Adolescent Behavioral Weight Control Intervention

“…The lack of association suggests that participation in a weight loss program confers benefits on selfconcept that are independent of the changes in weight, such as other perceived improvements to physical appearance or greater acceptance of physical appearance. Previous research has demonstrated a positive association between increases in physical activity and dimensions of self-concept, 20 suggesting that change in variables such as physical activity should not be overlooked.…”