title: The Moderating Role of Physical Self-Perceptions in the Relationship Between Maturity Status and Physical Self-Worth.
abstract: We tested the moderating role of physical self-perceptions in the relationship between physical maturity and physical self-worth (PSW).
  
  
  
  Students in Grades 5 through 8 (N = 241; 57% females; Mage = 12.30 years) completed a questionnaire assessing physical self-perceptions (i.e., perceived sport competence, conditioning, strength, and body attractiveness), PSW, and maturity status. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test interactions between maturity and physical self-perceptions predicting PSW separately for boys and girls.
  
  
  
  For girls, maturity level and physical self-perceptions explained significant variance, F(5, 131) = 73.44, p < .001, R(2) = .74, with interactions explaining a little extra variance, ΔF = 3.42, p = .01, ΔR(2) = .03. Perceived attractiveness interacted with maturity status to predict PSW (p = .01), indicating that maturity was positively related to PSW only for girls with higher body attractiveness. Maturity status and physical self-perceptions also significantly predicted PSW in boys, F(5, 98) = 46.52, p <  .001, R(2) = .70, with interactions explaining a little extra variance, ΔF = 3.16, p = .02, ΔR(2) = .04. A statistically significant interaction between perceived strength and maturity (p <  .001) indicated that maturity related positively to PSW, but only for boys with higher perceived strength.
  
  
  
  The maturity-PSW relationship differs by gender and depends partly on physical self-perceptions. This finding reinforces previous findings that illustrate the relative importance of perceived attractiveness and strength for girls and boys, respectively. PSW is an important predictor of physical activity behavior; therefore, it is critical to understand the interplay between these key antecedents.
authors.affiliation: a Washington State University.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: a Washington State University.
authors.forename: Amy N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: b Illinois State University.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laurson
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D013177:Sports; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescence; maturation; perceived sport competence; physical activity