Physical activity and self-esteem: testing direct and indirect relationships associated with psychological and physical mechanisms

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) and self-esteem (SE), while introducing body mass index (BMI), perceived physical fitness (PPF), and body image (BI) in adults (N =264, M =38.10 years). The findings indicated that PA was directly and indirectly associated with SE. BMI predicted SE neither directly nor indirectly, but was directly associated with PPF and both directly and indirectly with BI. Furthermore, PPF was directly related to BI and SE, and a direct association was found between BI and SE. The pattern of results suggests that among a sample of adults, PA is directly and indirectly associated with SE, PPF, and BI, but not with BMI. PA, PPF, and BI appear to play an important role in SE. Accordingly, regular PA should be promoted, in particular, among adults reporting lower SE.

Physical Activity and Academic Performance: The Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem and Depression

“…In the case of direct effects, physical activity has been identified as significantly related to self-esteem [4] and an important factor for enhancing it. The present study shows that students who are engaged in physical activity have a greater level of self-esteem.…”

“…Depression is commonly described in terms of hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy, agitation, restlessness, feelings of worthlessness or pessimism, and suicidal ideation [25]. However, there are a few studies on the relation between depression and physical activity on university students as most of the studies have been conducted on children and adolescents from different age groups linking their academic improvements with increasing physical activity [4]. The literature revealed that physical activity and exercise have constructive effects on depression [26].…”

“…However, on the basis of the literature, we propose that improved physical activity decreases depression [37] and indirectly increases academic performance [56]. Moreover, we also propose that improved physical activity increases self-esteem [4], which also increases academic performance [50].…”

“…Growing literature has exposed a significant relationship between academic performance and physical activity [3]. There has been much interest in studies on the potential benefits of physical activity for the development of cognitive abilities over the last several years, strongly recommending physical activity as an effective instrument for building psychological well-being [4,5]. Physical activity makes people feel good about them through decreasing depression or sadness, and rectifying and improving mood.…”

Análisis del sobrepeso y obesidad, niveles de actividad física y autoestima de la niñez salvadoreña

“…Como resultado de altos porcentajes de baja autoestima en la muestra evaluada, se hace referencia a los expuesto por Shriver, et al, (2013) que comenta que la población infantil con baja autoestima es susceptible a desórdenes de alimentación, trastornos de la imagen corporal, lo que le impediría desarrollar una vida satisfactoria y exitosa, contribuye al deterioro del bienestar psicológico de los niños (Hojjat, et al, 2016) y a la afectación de los factores psicosociales (Contreras-Valdez, Hernández-Guzmán y Freyre, 2016). Estas dificultades psicológicas son cada vez más comunes en edades tempranas en una sociedad donde la identidad personal y la presión social, continúan siendo un referente para la población en general, independientemente de la edad (Sánchez y Ruiz, 2015;Taberno, Serrano y Mérida, 2017).…”