Adolescents' physical self-perception as related to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a one-year longitudinal study

Abstract

The aim of the present longitudinal study was to follow the development of self-perceptions during early adolescence. The final samples for this study were 203 adolescents (105 girls, and 98 boys; mean age=15.2, SD=0.57). Adolescents completed Children's Physical Self- Perception Profile the four subdomain scales (sport competence, physical conditioning, strength, and body attractiveness), the general domain scale of physical self-worth, a global scale of self-worth. Longitudinal research indicates that the boys' perceptions of condition, sport, body, strength, physical self-worth and global self-worth were higher and they participated more in moderate to vigorous physical activity compared to girls. Sport and physical self-worth domains were the strongest predictors of moderate to vigorous physical activity for boys. Body and condition domains emerged as important predictors for girls. Our results demonstrate that physical selfperceptions are significant subdomains to physical activity and very stable at a moderate level during early adolescence. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR