title: Physical activity, self-esteem, and self-efficacy relationships in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: A randomized controlled trial examined the growth and form of multidimensional self-esteem over a 12-month period (6-month exercise intervention and 6-month follow-up) in 174 older adults engaged in either a walking or stretching/toning program. The extent to which changes in physical fitness parameters and physical self-efficacy were related to changes in perceptions of attractive body, strength, physical conditioning, and physical self-worth was also determined. Latent growth curve analyses showed a curvilinear pattern of growth in esteem with significant increases at all levels of self-esteem upon completion of the intervention followed by significant declines at 6 months postintervention in both groups. Frequency of activity and changes in physical fitness, body fat, and self-efficacy were related to improvements in esteem perceptions relative to attractive body, strength, and physical condition. Model fitting procedures suggested that the best fit of the data was to a model in which the influence of changes in efficacy and physical parameters on physical self-worth were mediated by perceptions of attractive body and physical condition.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois, Department of Kinesiology, Urbana 61801, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blissmer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katula
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mihalko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy