Rj. Sonstroem et Sa. Potts, LIFE ADJUSTMENT CORRELATES OF PHYSICAL SELF-CONCEPTS, Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 28(5), 1996, pp. 619-625
This research tested relationships between physical self-concepts and
contemporary measures of life adjustment. University students (119 fem
ales, 126 males) completed the Physical Self-Perception Profile assess
ing self-concepts of sport competence, physical condition, attractive
body, strength, and general physical self-worth. Multiple regression f
ound significant associations (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) in hypothesized
directions between physical self-concepts and positive affect, negativ
e affect, depression, and health complaints in 17 of 20 analyses. Thir
teen of these relationships remained significant when controlling for
the Bonferroni effect. Hierarchical multiple regression examined the u
nique contribution of physical self-perceptions in predicting each adj
ustment variable after accounting for the effects of global self-estee
m and two measures of social desirability. Physical self-concepts sign
ificantly improved associations with life adjustment (P < 0.05 to P <
0.05) in three of the eight analyses across gender and approached sign
ificance in three others. These data demonstrate that self-perceptions
of physical competence in college students are essentially related to
life adjustment, independent of the effects of social desirability an
d global self-esteem. These links are mainly with perceptions of sport
competence in males and with perceptions of physical condition, attra
ctive body, and general physical self-worth in both males and females.