International Journal of Public Health

, Volume 56, Issue 3, pp 311–318 | Cite as

Aspects of self differ among physically active and inactive youths

  • Zuzana Veselska
  • Andrea Madarasova Geckova
  • Sijmen A. Reijneveld
  • Jitse P. van Dijk
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

Objectives

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.

Conclusion

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.

Keywords

Self-esteem Self-efficacy Physical activity Adolescence Gender 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under contract no. APVV-20-038205 and by the Science and Technology Assistance Agency under contract no. APVT-20-028802. This work was partially (20%) supported by the Agency of the Slovak Ministry of Education for the Structural Funds of the EU, under project ITMS: 26220120058.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Copyright information

© Swiss School of Public Health 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Zuzana Veselska
    • 1
    • 2
  • Andrea Madarasova Geckova
    • 1
    • 2
  • Sijmen A. Reijneveld
    • 3
  • Jitse P. van Dijk
    • 1
    • 3
  1. 1.Kosice Institute for Society and HealthPJ Safarik UniversityKosiceSlovak Republic
  2. 2.Department of Health Psychology, Medical Faculty, Institute of Public HealthPJ Safarik UniversityKosiceSlovak Republic
  3. 3.Department of Social MedicineUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands

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