Citation

Kipp LE. Pediatr. Exerc. Sci. 2016; 28(1): 28-31.

Affiliation

Department of Health and Human Performance, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/pes.2016-0009

PMID

26887603

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: One important issue in sport and exercise psychology is to determine to what extent sports and exercise can help to increase self-esteem, and what the underlying mechanism might be. Based on the exercise and self-esteem model (EXSEM) and on findings from the sociometer theory, the mediating effect of physical self-concept and perceived social acceptance on the longitudinal relationship between motor ability and self-esteem was investigated.

DESIGN: Longitudinal study with three waves of data collection at intervals of ten weeks each.

METHOD: 428 adolescents (46.3% girls, Mage = 11.9, SD =.55) participated in the study, in which they performed three motor ability tests and completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires for physical self-concept and perceived social acceptance, as well as for self-esteem, at all three measuring points.

RESULTS: Using structural equation modeling procedures, the multiple mediation model revealed both physical self-concept and perceived social acceptance to be mediators between motor ability and self-esteem in the case of boys. In girls, on the other hand, the mediation between motor ability and self-esteem only takes place via physical self-concept.

CONCLUSIONS: Gender differences in the relationship between motor ability and self-esteem suggest gender-specific interventions aimed at promoting self-concept.

Language: en