Physical Self-Perceptions Among College Female Athletes, Exercisers, and Non-Exercisers

The purpose of this study was to further understand physical self-perception differences between athletes and exercisers, athletes and non-exercisers, and exercisers and non-exercisers and investigate the influence of each of the four subdomains (i.e., sport competence, physical conditioning, body attractiveness, and physical strength) on college females' overall physical self-worth. The Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) was used to survey female college students attending one Midwestern University. Self-perceptions of the subdomains of physical strength and body attractiveness were statistically significant positive predictors of female college students' overall physical self-worth for all three groups. That is, female athletes, exercisers, and non-exercisers who perceived their body attractiveness and physical strength positively were more likely to perceive their overall physical self-worth more positively. No statistically significant positive differences were reported for the subdomain of body attractiveness among any of the three groups. Statistically significant differences were reported between athletes and exercisers, athletes and non-exercisers, and exercisers and non-exercisers on self-perceptions of their physical strength.

Attendees will learn about physical self-perception differences between female college students who are athletes, exercisers and non-exercisers. The importance of body attractiveness among female college students in all three groups will be demonstrated as well as group differences in the other three PSPP subdomains of sport competence, physical conditioning and physical strength. Additionally, research findings will demonstrate that sport competition and exercise participation improved self-perceptions of physical strength and subsequently overall physical self-worth among college females.