Exercise and self-esteem: rationale and model

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Exercise Science

Background:

• While chronic physical exercise is often linked to positive psychological benefits, research has not consistently supported this general claim.
• Reviews indicate that enhanced self-esteem is a reliably supported outcome of exercise.
• Previous research has limitations in self-esteem theory, measurement, and understanding the mechanisms of change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize relevant self-esteem theory.
• To present an empirically grounded rationale for exercise-induced self-esteem enhancement.
• To propose a hierarchical model of self-structure for examining exercise and self-esteem interactions.

Main Methods:

• Review of self-esteem theories.
• Development of a hierarchical model of self-structure.
• Operational definition of the self-esteem model including dimensions of competence and self-acceptance.

Main Results:

• The proposed model organizes self-structure components hierarchically based on generality.
• The model incorporates dimensions of competence and self-acceptance to explain self-esteem changes.
• This framework provides a basis for empirically investigating the exercise-self-esteem relationship.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced self-esteem is an empirically supported outcome of exercise.
• A hierarchical model of self-structure, including competence and self-acceptance, offers a framework for understanding exercise-related self-esteem changes.
• Further research can utilize this model to explore the mechanisms linking exercise participation to improved self-esteem.