Rj. Sonstroem et al., PATH-ANALYSIS OF A SELF-ESTEEM MODEL ACROSS A COMPETITIVE SWIM SEASON, Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 64(3), 1993, pp. 335-342
An adaptation of the previously developed Exercise and Self-Esteem Mod
el (Sonstroem &Morgan, 1989) was tested longitudinally with 93 male in
terscholastic swimmers from nine high schools who were evaluated at pr
e-, mid-, and postseason. Swimmers completed three self-perception sca
les that ranged from evaluations of specific swim skills (SKILL) throu
gh broader perceived physical competence (PC) to global self-esteem (S
E). Performance scores (PERF) were calculated across events by standar
dizing swim times to a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. Struct
ural modeling analysis across the three time waves indicated an excell
ent data fit (chi2 = 25.46, p > .15). The model was able to explain 84
, 83, and 80% of PC, SKILL, and PERF, respectively, at the third testi
ng period. Swim improvement tended to be small (median change = 2.9%).
Relationships among variables at each testing period and among the sa
me variables at different testing periods were large and as hypothesiz
ed. Several significant relationships occurred between different varia
bles across different testing periods. These were not extinguished whe
n social desirability was added to the model. Social desirability fail
ed to significantly influence subsequent measures of any model variabl
e.