Aspects of self differ among physically active and inactive youths.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper was to explore connection between aspects of self and levels of physical activity among adolescents.


METHODS
An international sample of 501 elementary school students (mean age 14.7 ± 0.9 years, 48.5% males) from the Slovak and Czech Republics completed the Self-competence/Self-liking Scale, the Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, the Self-efficacy Scale and a question on their physical activity. Respondents were divided into three groups: (1) no physical activity; (2) infrequent physical activity; (3) everyday physical activity. Data were explored with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) separately for each gender.


RESULTS
Boys with no physical activity had lower self-liking and social self-efficacy in comparison with boys with everyday physical activity. Girls with no physical activity had lower positive self-esteem, self-liking, self-competence, general and social self-efficacy and higher negative self-esteem in comparison with girls with infrequent and everyday physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular physical activity is connected with psychological aspects of self among adolescents, especially girls. Incorporating physical activity into the life of youths on a regular basis might lead to the enhancement of their feelings of self-worth and self-efficacy.
Kosice Institute for Society and Health, PJ Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic. zuzana.veselska@upjs.sk
Zuzana
Z
Veselska
Andrea
A
Madarasova Geckova
Sijmen A
SA
Reijneveld
Jitse P
JP
van Dijk
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018153:Czech Republic; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D018154:Slovakia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires