Body image, perceived physical ability, and motor performance in nonoverweight and overweight Italian children.
The purpose was to examine body image, perceived physical ability, and motor performance in nonoverweight (n=105, 53 boys and 52 girls) and overweight (n=105, 52 boys and 53 girls) children, ranging in age from 8 to 10 years and attending elementary schools in southeastern Italy. Body image was measured on Collins' Child Figure Drawings, while self-efficacy was assessed by the Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children. Age-appropriate field-based tests of standing long jump, 1-kg medicine-ball throw, basketball throw, and 10-m and 20-m sprint from a standing position were also administered to gauge motor performance. Univariate analyses of variance [2 (group) x 2 (sex) x 3 (8, 9, 10 yr.)] showed that overweight children reported larger body-dissatisfaction scores, lower self-efficacy scores, and poorer performance on weight-bearing tasks than nonoverweight peers. In addition, boys had higher mean scores on physical self-efficacy and better performance on all motor tests. The correlation between Body Mass Index and body dissatisfaction was positive for boys and girls.
Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Laboratorio di Didattica delle Attività Motorie, Scienze delle Attività Motorie e Sportive, Università di Foggia, Viale Virgilio, Quartiere CEP, 71100 Foggia, Italy. d.colella@unifg.it
Dario
D
Colella
Milena
M
Morano
Claudio
C
Robazza
Laura
L
Bortoli
D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis