Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Self-perception in adolescence; Physical fitness -- Psychological aspects;

Abstract

Researchers have suggested that improvements in aerobic fitness lead to improved self-concept (Collingwood, 1972; Folkins & Sime,.1981; Hanson & Nedde, 1974; Hatfield, Vaccaro, & Benedict, 1985; Hilyer & Mitchell, 1979; McGowan, Jarman, & Pedersen, 1974; Percy, Dziuban, & Martin, 1981; Schumaker, Small, & Wood, 1986). It has yet to be determined, however, how aerobic fitness is linked to positive self-concept. Other researchers have found that perceptions of physical fitness are correlated with self-concept (Leonardson, 1977; Riley, 1983; Young, 1985). Perceptions of aerobic fitness and how it relates to self-concept, however, have yet to be specifically studied. Using measures of self-concept, perceived aerobic fitness, and actual aerobic fitness, 78 tenth- and eleventh-grade male and female students were tested to determine the relationships among the three variables. The Perceived Aerobic Fitness Scale (PAFS) was developed for this study as a means of specifically measuring perceptions of aerobic fitness. Item analysis indicated internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha= .87). It was found that the correlation between perceived aerobic fitness and actual aerobic fitness was significantly different from zero (r = .276). Self concept was not significantly correlated with either perceived or actual aerobic fitness. These results could indicate that there is not a significant relationship between self-concept and aerobic fitness. Further, there also does not seem to be a strong relationship between sel·f-concept and perceived aerobic fitness. Therefore, it could be thought that self-concept and aerobic fitness are independent of each other.

Year of Submission

1992

Degree Name

Specialist in Education

Department

Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations

First Advisor

Melissa Heston

Second Advisor

Dennis Cryer

Third Advisor

Donald Schmits

Comments

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Date Original

1992

Object Description

1 PDF file (100 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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Education Commons

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