Physical Activity, Motor Development and Self-Concept: Race and Age Differences

Abstract

To investigate the effect of organized physical activity on the development of specific motor skills (body coordination and self-concept) of elementary age children, 344 children from the ethnic origins, black and white, were administered the Schilling Body Coordination Test and the Martinek-Zaichkowsky Self-concept Scale for Children. Motor development (body coordination) and self-concept scores were significantly higher for the group who participated in the physical activity program than for controls who did not. There was a linear trend in motor skill improvement, with Grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 showing significantly higher gains than Grade 1. The self-concept scores indicated a significant decline for Grades 3, 4, and 5. There were no significant differences between blacks and whites. A two-way interaction was found between grade and race in motor development, with blacks demonstrating lower mean scores than whites in Grade 2 but higher mean scores in Grade 5. Correlations between self-concept and motor development were non-significant.

Attitude Toward Physical Activity and Self-Concept of Emotionally Disturbed and Normal Children

“…In a study to determine the effect of a running program on self-concept of college students, Hilyer and Mitchell (1979) revealed that college students with low self-concept increased both their fitness levels and their self-concept scores. Other studies have shown similar positive results (Martinek, Cheffers, & Zaichkowsky, 1978;Wright & Cowden, 1986). These and other studies suggest that proficiency in physical activities could enhance self-concept.…”

Psychological Changes Accompany Aerobic Exercise in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults

“…Finally, a third series of studies have reported positive psychological changes accompanying physical exercise in specialized populations such as children (15), collge students (16), cardiac patients (17), or psychiatric patients (18,19).…”

Tuesdays and Thursdays With Boston's Inner-City Youth

“…In order to gather meaningful data from especially the younger children, it was necessary to develop nonverbal instruments Downloaded by [Nanyang Technological University] at 01:29 06 June 2016 and to validate new instruments with more specific intent. Instruments measuring attitudes, preferences, self-concept, involvement, interaction, creativity, motorskill development, and fitness were used during these energetic years Martinek, Zaichkowsky, & Cheffers, 1977;Cheffers & Evaul, 1978;Martinek, Zaichkowsky, & Cheffers, 1978;: Schempp, Cheffers, & Zaichkowsky, 1983Lydon & Cheffers, 1984;Lydon & Cheffers, 1984;Cheffers & Crowley-Sullivan, 1990;Cheffers, 1992;Nastasi & Cheffers, 1992;Cheffers, 1993;Kelly, 1996;Lydon & Cheffers, 1984). No instrument was used that was not vaIid or reliable.…”

“…Martinek et al (1978) investigated the effect of physical activity on motor-skill development (body coordination) and self-concept with 344 children from ethnic origins, Black, and White. They used the Schilling Body Coordination tests and the Martinek Zaichkowsky Self-concept Scale for Children.…”