title: Self-perception changes among sports camp participants.
abstract: The relationship between sports camp participation and changes in self-perception was assessed. The participants were 42 boys and 32 girls participating in a 5-week summer sports camp for economically disadvantaged children in the United States. Self-concept was measured at the beginning and end of the camp with Harter's (1985) Self-Perception Profile (SPP) for Children. At the beginning of the camp the girls scored higher than the boys on overall SPP scores and three of six subscales. After 5 weeks, the girls' scores were higher on only one subscale and on adult group leaders' ratings. The decline in the girls' scores was attributed to the stress of competition or to initial overly positive self-perceptions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kishton
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002165:Camping; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*