Scheduled for Pedagogy and Sociocultural Posters, Friday, April 2, 2004, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall Poster Session


Activity Level, Physical Self-Perceptions, and Physical Self-Importance Differences Within Middle School Children

Arthur W. Miller, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Physical activity helps reduce cardiovascular disease including elevated blood lipids in children (Pate, 1995: Sternfield, et al., 1999: U. S. Health & Human Services, 2000). Physical activity is inversely associated with HDL cholesterol levels and positively associated with psychological well being (Brown, et al., 1992: Shepard, 1984: Suter, et al., 1993). Active lifestyles are also positively associated with enhancement of one’s self-esteem and body image (Brown, et al., 1992: Goni & Zulaika, 2000: Sallis, et al., 2000). The purpose of the study was to investigate activity levels, physical fitness test scores, physical self-perceptions, and the importance of the physical self-perceptions of middle school children. An investigation was conducted to determine if high or low daily activity levels influenced end of the year fitness test scores, physical self-perception profile scores, and physical importance profile scores of children. A total of 324 7th & 8th grade students were examined. Data was collected on their Previous Day Activity Recall (PDAR) (Pate, 1995), their Presidential Physical Fitness test scores (AAHPERD), their Children/Youth Physical Self-Perception Profile (CY-PSPP) (Harter, 1985), and their Children/Youth Physical Importance Profile (CY-PIP) Harter, 1985). A low but significant relationship (r=.26* p<0.01) was established between physical self-worth and activity level of students. There was a significant difference in Physical Self-Perception scores between high active and low active students (*p<0.001). A low but significant relationship (r= .23* p<0.01) was established between activity level and a child’s Physical Importance Profile. There was a significant difference in Physical Importance scores between high active and low active students (*p<0.001). There also was a low but significant relationship (r=.27* p<0.01) between physical fitness test scores and activity levels of students. The following conclusions can be made. Higher active students tend to score higher in Physical Self-Perception Profile scores thus demonstrating that the more active students are the higher or better they rate their physical self-perceptions. Activity is significantly related to positive physical self-perceptions. Also, higher active students tend to score higher in Physical Importance Profile scores thus demonstrating that more active students also tend to place more importance on such activity. The more importance, the more likelihood they will remain active. Also, more active students tend to score higher on their Physical Fitness test scores than lower active students.
Keyword(s): middle school issues, physical activity, wellness/disease prevention

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