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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
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Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Preliminary development of the Children's Physical Self-Concept Scale
R J Stein1, B A Bracken, C K Haddock
1Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Summary
Childhood physical self-concept influences adult health habits. The Children's Physical Self-Concept Scale (CPSS) was developed for ages 6-11, showing reliability and distinguishing between normal-weight, overweight, and diabetic children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Health Behavior Research
- Measurement in Psychology
Background:
- Childhood physical self-concept is crucial for developing healthy eating and fitness habits later in life.
- Existing physical self-concept measures are often unsuitable for young children (grades 1-2).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop, pilot, and partially validate the Children's Physical Self-Concept Scale (CPSS) for children aged 6-11.
- To assess Global physical self-concept and its subscales: Physical Performance, Physical Appearance, and Weight Control behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Development and validation of a 27-item Children's Physical Self-Concept Scale (CPSS).
- Assessed test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the CPSS.
- Administered the CPSS to 316 children (normal and overweight) and a contrasted group (diabetic, overweight, normal-weight).
Main Results:
- The CPSS demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability and internal consistency.
- Normal-weight children scored higher on Global physical self-concept and subscales compared to overweight children.
- The CPSS effectively differentiated between diabetic, overweight, and normal-weight children in a contrasted-groups analysis.
Conclusions:
- The CPSS is a reliable and valid measure for assessing physical self-concept in children aged 6-11.
- Physical self-concept varies significantly based on weight status in children.
- The CPSS can be a valuable tool for identifying children at risk or those with specific health conditions related to physical self-perception.
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