Brief report: Performing on the stage, the field, or both? Australian adolescent extracurricular activity participation and self-concept.
The relationship between Australian adolescents' participation in extracurricular activities and their self-concepts was investigated. A total of 1489 adolescents (56% female; mean age 13.8 years) completed measures of social self-concept, academic self-concept, and general self-worth, and reported on their extracurricular activity participation. In general, participation in any type of extracurricular activity was associated with a higher social and academic self-concept, and general self-worth, compared to no participation. Adolescents who participated in both sports and non-sports also reported a more positive social self-concept and general self-worth, compared to those who only participated in one of the activity types. This research provides support for extracurricular activities as a context facilitative of positive self-concept, and demonstrates the importance of a mixed participation profile for an adolescent's self-concept.
Blomfield
Corey J
CJ
School of Psychology, Murdoch University, South Street, Western Australia 6150, Australia. c.blomfield@murdoch.edu.au
Barber
Bonnie L
BL
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires