Aging-related changes in the relationship between the physical self-concept and the physical fitness in elderly...

The paper focuses on long-term changes in parameters of self-perception (ie, physical self-concept, self-esteem, and self-efficacy), physical activity, and its relationship to physical fitness of healthy and active old adults. The sample of 22 physically active and healthy elderly (age M_t1  = 66.00) originates in an earlier skiing intervention study following a longitudinal study design with four time points of measurement over a period of 6 years. Self-reports on physical self-concept (PSK), general self-esteem and self-efficacy, and an activity index were assessed and compared to physical fitness data (VO_2max and muscle strength). Significant time effects (over 6 years) were obtained with respect to global physical self-concept, endurance (PSK), and VO_2max . Muscle strength turned out to be stable over time. The positive correlations between VO_2max and the corresponding self-concept evaluation of endurance abilities diminished across the 6 years. Self-esteem correlated with the PSK scales and VO_2max . In contrast to our expectation, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and activity level hardly predicted changes in the PSK scales, VO_2max , and physical strength. Although VO_2max and some parameters of the physical self-concept declined over the 6 years, results indicate that physical self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy, physical fitness, and physical activity display a complex pattern. The decrease in self-perception measured by the correlation of PSK and physical fitness suggests that self-concept of old adults is not sensitive to changes in physical fitness.