Psychological benefits of sport participation and physical activity for adolescent females.

Recent research has suggested that the effects of sport on well-being are mediated by psychological characteristics such as physical self-concept, instrumentality and positive body images; in addition, sport was found to be related to these psychological benefits for high school girls. However, physical self-concept played a central role by mediating the sport -body image and sport instrumentality relationships. Positive body image and instrumentality, in turn, predicted greater psychological well-being. The purpose of this investigation was to replicate earlier studies, and to examine these relationships with non-sport physical activity. Sport and physical activity were expected to contribute to higher physical self-concept, which in turn, would contribute positively to instrumentality and body image. Further, instrumentality and body image would be positively related to psychological well-being. Participants were 355 9th (n = 170) and 10th (n = 193) graders and they completed measures of involvement in sport/physical activities, physical self-concept, instrumentality, body satisfaction, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, depression, and demographics. Structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the data. Overall, for both sport and physical activity, the models fit the data well (sport model: NNFI=.95, CFI=.96, SRMR=.08, RMSEA=.09, physical activity model: NNFI=.96, CFI=.97, SRMR=.08, RMSEA=.09). Specifically, sport participation was positively related to physical self-concept (R2 = .47); physical self-concept related to body image (R2 = .30) and instrumentality (R2 = .23); Physical activity was positively related to physical self-concept (R2 = .61); physical self-concept related to body image (R2 = .30) and instrumentality (R2 = .26). For both models, positive body image and higher levels of instrumentality contributed to greater psychological well-being (R2 = 66). These results highlight the importance of developing physical competence for high school girls through sport participation and physical activity.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2007

Author dc:creator

• Boyer, Elizabeth M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Petrie, Trent A.
• Greenleaf, Christy
• Cogan, Karen D.
• Hayslip, Bert

• sport
• physical activity
• psychological well-being
• instrumentality
• self-esteem
• physical competence
• body image
• Sports for girls -- Psychological aspects.
• Exercise for youth -- Psychological aspects.
• Self-perception in adolescence.
• Body image in adolescence.

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Boyer, Elizabeth M.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 191821407
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3997/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3997

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3997