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Adolescent physical activity and perceived competence: does change in activity level impact self-perception?
Cynthia Stein1, Laurie Fisher, Catherine Berkey
1Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. cynthia.stein@post.harvard.edu
Summary
Increased physical activity positively impacts adolescents
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Psychology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Self-perception is crucial for adolescent development.
- Physical activity levels often change during adolescence.
- Understanding the link between activity and self-perception is important for well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between changes in physical activity and self-perceptions in adolescents.
- To examine effects on social, athletic, and scholastic competence, and global self-worth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) with 5260 girls and 3410 boys (1997-1999).
- Compared changes in physical activity with changes in perceived competence and self-worth.
- Controlled for confounders like BMI, smoking, and baseline scores.
Main Results:
- Increased physical activity correlated positively with social and athletic self-perception in both genders (p < .0001).
- Adolescents with increased activity showed greater improvements in self-perception measures compared to those with stable activity.
- Decreased physical activity was associated with decreased self-perception scores.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity significantly enhances athletic and social self-perception in adolescents.
- The findings highlight the importance of promoting physical activity for positive adolescent psychological development.
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