Physical self-concept of normal-weight and overweight adolescents: Gender specificities

Zbornik Instituta za pedagoška istraživanja

关键词: physical self-concept;    overweight;    adolescents;    healthy lifestyle;    physical education;   

DOI  :  10.2298/ZIPI1102347L

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Previous researchers have described the relation between physicalself-concept and body mass in adolescents, but those relationships have notbeen clearly specified by gender. The purpose of this study is to explorephysical self-concepts of normal-weight and over-weight Serbian adolescentswith respect to gender. The sample consisted of 417 primary school students(229 boys and 188 girls) with the average age 13.6 (SD=0.73) years who weredivided into normal-weight and overweight groups according to body massindex. To assess the multidimensional physical self-concept, PhysicalSelf-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) was administered. Results showed thatoverweight adolescents had significantly lower scores than normal-weight onall PSDQ scales except Health and Strength. Differences were greater amonggirls than boys. Discriminant analysis showed that the scales Body Fat,Endurance and Sports Competence best differentiated normal-weight boys fromother students. Also, discriminant analysis showed that, besides the scaleBody Fat, scales Flexibility, Self-Esteem, and Coordination bestdifferentiated normal-weight girls from other students. Results indicate thatfor better understanding of the relationship between adolescent’s physicalself-concept and body mass one must take gender into account. Results arepotentially valuable for preventing overweight through physical education.

【 授权许可】

Unknown