Zbornik Instituta za pedagoska istrazivanja 2011 Volume 43, Issue 2, Pages: 347-365
https://doi.org/10.2298/ZIPI1102347L
Full text ( 257 KB)
Cited by
Physical self-concept of normal-weight and overweight adolescents: Gender specificities
Lazarević Dušanka (Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Belgrade)
Radisavljević-Janić Snežana (Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Belgrade)
Milanović Ivana (Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Belgrade)
Lazarević Ljiljana B. (Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Belgrade)
Previous researchers have described the relation between physical
self-concept and body mass in adolescents, but those relationships have not
been clearly specified by gender. The purpose of this study is to explore
physical self-concepts of normal-weight and over-weight Serbian adolescents
with respect to gender. The sample consisted of 417 primary school students
(229 boys and 188 girls) with the average age 13.6 (SD=0.73) years who were
divided into normal-weight and overweight groups according to body mass
index. To assess the multidimensional physical self-concept, Physical
Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) was administered. Results showed that
overweight adolescents had significantly lower scores than normal-weight on
all PSDQ scales except Health and Strength. Differences were greater among
girls than boys. Discriminant analysis showed that the scales Body Fat,
Endurance and Sports Competence best differentiated normal-weight boys from
other students. Also, discriminant analysis showed that, besides the scale
Body Fat, scales Flexibility, Self-Esteem, and Coordination best
differentiated normal-weight girls from other students. Results indicate that
for better understanding of the relationship between adolescent’s physical
self-concept and body mass one must take gender into account. Results are
potentially valuable for preventing overweight through physical education.
Keywords: physical self-concept, overweight, adolescents, healthy lifestyle, physical education