RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL SELF-CONCEPT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG ADOLESCENTS

The aim of this study is to test two opposing models of the relationship between physical self-perceptions and physical activity during adolescence: one which postulates that physical activity influences physical self-concept, and another one which proposes that physical self-concept influences physical activity. Participants were 704 students aged between 11 and 19 (M = 14.91; SD = 2.13) from two different Autonomous Regions in Spain (Cantabria and the Basque Country). 394 (55.96%) were male and 310 (44.04%) were female. The results indicate that the influences between physical self-concept and physical activity are bidirectional in nature, although the model that proposes physical self-concept as an influencing factor was found to have a better fitness. Differences were found in the model between male and female students. Furthermore, self-perception of physical attractiveness was found to be negatively related to physical activity.