Effect of indoor wall climbing on self-efficacy and self-perceptions of children with special needs.
The impact of a six-week indoor wall climbing on the perceptions of self for children with special needs aged 6-12 years was explored. Participants (n = 46) were randomly assigned to the intervention (girls, n = 4; boys, n = 19) and control groups (girls, n = 5; boys, n = 18). Belayers' and children's perceptions of efficacy were measured using specifically designed questionnaires and perceptions of competence and global self-worth were measured using Harter's (1985) Self-Perception Profile for Children for participants with an adaptive age of 8 years or higher. Children's self-efficacy and belayers' ratings of children's efficacy improved significantly, t(21) = 3.9, p = .001, d= .84 and F(2, 44) = 30.03, p < .001, respectively. The children's judgments of their athletic and social competence and global self-worth, however, did not change over time or differ from the wait-listed control group (p > .05). These results suggest that it is likely that many experiences that enhance self-efficacy may be needed to improve self-perceptions.
Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health, Victoria, British Columbia.
Erin R
ER
Mazzoni
P Lynn
PL
Purves
Julie
J
Southward
Ryan E
RE
Rhodes
Viviene A
VA
Temple
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000523:psychology; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011594:Psychometrics; D011897:Random Allocation; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires