Concept Paper 2

Name: Gerlaiden Palahang Course: BSED-PE
Year level: 2nd year
“PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SELF PERCEPTION IN ADOLESCENTS: APUBLIC

HEALTH PERSPECTIVE”
Introduction
Practice of physical activity (PA) and sport helps students during physical education (PE)
lessons and non-scholar time to acquire better feelings of personal satisfaction PA motivation,
and better self-perception of physical fitness (PF). Self-perception is a reflection of the student
about their capacity to meet the physical limits in PA and sports. According to Fox et al.,
physical self-perception is the main characteristic of the search for mental health and well-being.
On the other hand, self-perception of PF is considered to be multidimensional, composed by
perceived PF and athletic competence in sport activities and activities with component of
muscular strength, flexibility or cardiorespiratory fitness. Moreover, perception of the own PF is
sensitive to variations in PA levels and psychological self-satisfaction (e.g., body-image,
satisfaction during PA practice, insecurity, etc.).
Self-reported PF in children and adolescents is useful to establish possible cardiovascular
disease risk and diverse levels of PF in this population. Thus, personal physical self-perception
assessed by validated instrument could be considered as an important social cognitive
perspective to provide suitable mental health in children and adolescents. Moreover, self-
perception of physical fitness in youth is related with a positive identity and less behavior
disorders when they practice PA. Adolescent students’ behaviors during a class or their leisure
time may vary depending on a number of factors, such as sport motivation, acceptation of their
self on sport activities or the satisfaction of physical competence by physical self-perception. It
considers that the correct physical self-perception strongly influences teenager and adolescent
motivation and the low or high control of self-perception behaviors, and is the reason for the
proliferation of studies in this regard. The physical self-concept shows a relative importance
because it is based on the relationship between the individual’s personal beliefs and their
subsequent behavior.
Sport activities for adolescents offer multiple possibilities to improve personal and
interpersonal skills, and therefore a better sport competence. On the other hand, girls
‘perceptions of social competence are not as high as the boys´ perception in sport practice and
this fact must be taken into account in gender comparative studies. Another PSPP subscale is
physical strength which is strongly associated with general self-concept, happiness and life
satisfaction. In this line, physical strength self-perception has shown to be associated with
general fitness in younger population, specifically with boys for the obsession to show the
muscularity of these. Self-confidence and social identity respect to the sport participation´s
interest for adolescent could vary with the time and it is important to begin the contact with sport
activities from an early age to stablish a natural relationship and a strong self-confidence in the
young practitioner. Self-confidence in boys is normally higher than in girls because they like to
be more active in sports and every activity of their daily life.
Value of the Study
In this study, important results showed that positive attractive body, sport competence,
physical strength, and self-confidence (all, PSPP subscales) were significant mediators in the link
between gender and OPF. Adolescent students of the present study experienced differences
between genders in those PSPP subscales. A multitude of reasons maybe attributed to the
observed differences in the physical self-concept of boys and girls. In this sense, it must be
highlighted that girls normally show a less favorable relationship with the five PSPP subscales
than boys, specifically in physical condition, sport competence, and attractive body. According
to the last PSPP subscale, attractive body plays an important role in youth because the obsession
with perfection of the body is constant in their daily life. In fact, the fascination for beauty is
common in all ages and sectors of society and not only characteristic of young people. The
feeling of beauty and satisfaction with one’s own body may accompany the growth and
maturation of both boys and girls since early childhood. Youngsters undergo physical and
cognitive changes just before the beginning of the adolescence that influence their personal and
social identity construction process.
However, attractive body could not be affected directly by the practice of PA because
changes of PA in adolescent girls are mainly predicted by the physical condition perceived
instead of cognitive variables such as body image self-perception. This means that we must be
cautious with the findings about the mediation of attractive body between gender and OPF.
Differences by biological characteristics between boys and girls must be also taken into account
as a possible explanation of the attractive body mediation on OPF, specifically in girls. Puberty
signs appear before in girls than boys, with numerous physiological modification as breast and
pubic hair development, facial features, etc. Moreover, some body symmetry and hormone
signals are often perceived as attractive or unattractive among young children and adolescents.
Thus, girls could try to hide their physical changes in physical tasks as physical exercise or sport
and consequently, showing lower OPF because they feel less attractive.
Preliminary Literature Review

Fox and Corbin included five physical competences regarding to the physical self-
perception in their instrument physical self-perception profile (PSPP) with the purpose to analyze
the effects of the relationship between physical´s perception and participation in PA and sport
activities: physical condition, attractive body, sport competence, physical strength and self-
confidence.
In their meta-analysis, Groesz et al found that the greatest decline in body satisfaction
occurred in girls under the age of 19 following exposure to overtly thin media images. Recent
studies indicate that current diet, exercise, and beauty trends displayed in reality television shows
and social media outlets can contribute to unhealthy adolescent body perceptions. For example,
Ashikali et al found that 15–18-year old girls exposed to a cosmetic surgery show (ie, Dr 90210)
reported more weight-related and appearance dissatisfaction than a control group exposed to a
home improvement show (ie, Extreme Makeover Home Edition).
Tiggemann and Slater found that among 13–15-year old girls, body image concerns
increased with time spent on the Internet and Facebook usage. Meier and Gray further
identified that the time spent on Facebook was less important than the degree of exposure to
appearance-specific media such as photo sharing, which was positively associated with body
image concerns. These findings suggest that in addition to print media, current television and
Internet trends are sources of promoting unrealistic and so-called ideal images to adolescents. As
a continually evolving and ubiquitous source of information on body ideals, Perloff calls for
more research on the Internet, social media, and their influence on body image among
adolescents.
Statement of the Problem

The general aim of the present study was to examine how physical activity, participation
in sports, and beliefs about personal physical activity and physical fitness are associated with
adolescents' psychosomatic health complaints (PHC) in relation to their lifestyles.
1. Adolescents demonstrating poorer health-related behavioral profiles in terms of
1.1 age,
1.2 smoking
1.3 alcohol assumption
1.4 unhealthy foods
2. Physical activity and sports participation were related to lower PH
1.1 hours of internet use
1.2 and poor personal fitness perception
3. Positive physical activity and physical fitness perception changed the associations between
PHC and unhealthy lifestyle
1.1 Lower physical activity and self-perceived insufficient physical activity
1.2 perception of physical fitness as being poor

Concept Paper 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Concept Paper 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Name: Gerlaiden Palahang Course: BSED-PE

Year level: 2nd year

“PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SELF PERCEPTION IN ADOLESCENTS: APUBLIC

On the other hand, self-perception of PF is considered to be multidimensional, composed by

muscular strength, flexibility or cardiorespiratory fitness. Moreover, perception of the own PF is

sensitive to variations in PA levels and psychological self-satisfaction (e.g., body-image,

satisfaction during PA practice, insecurity, etc.).

Self-reported PF in children and adolescents is useful to establish possible cardiovascular

assessed by validated instrument could be considered as an important social cognitive

be more active in sports and every activity of their daily life.

Value of the Study

social identity construction process.

Preliminary Literature Review

home improvement show (ie, Extreme Makeover Home Edition).

Statement of the Problem

adolescents' psychosomatic health complaints (PHC) in relation to their lifestyles.

1. Adolescents demonstrating poorer health-related behavioral profiles in terms of

1.3 alcohol assumption

1.4 unhealthy foods

2. Physical activity and sports participation were related to lower PH

1.1 hours of internet use

1.2 and poor personal fitness perception

PHC and unhealthy lifestyle

1.1 Lower physical activity and self-perceived insufficient physical activity

1.2 perception of physical fitness as being poor

You might also like