Self-Perceptions and Exercise

Question 1

What is self-esteem?

Answer 1

– How a person feels about him/herself
– Global self-esteem doesn’t consistently predict physical activity
– People with high self-esteem reported greater adherence

Question 2

Self-Concept

Answer 2

– How a person sees or defines him/herself

– Physical self-concept consistently predicts physical activity

Question 3

What is body image?

Answer 3

How a person sees his/her body and their perceptions towards it
– primary motive to start an exercise program is dissatisfaction with body image
– More of a deterrent than an incentive
– Multidimensional

Question 4

What are the 4 dimensions of body image?

Answer 4

1. Perceptual – visual representation of how someone views themselves
2. Cognitive – how someone thinks about, evaluates and values one perception of their body
3. Affective – pride, satisfaction, happy, shame, disgust, anxiety
4. Behavioural – what we do to reflect our positive or negative perception

Question 5

What is Social Physique Anxiety

Answer 5

The anxiety a person experiences when he/she perceives that others are negatively evaluating his or her physique

Question 6

What are the outcomes that may result form body image disorders? (1-4/2-2)

Answer 6

– Psychological well-being
       – General self-esteem and self-concept
       – Depression, anxiety and stress
       –  competence/self-efficacy
       – Enjoyment
– Physical well-being
       –  Health damaging behaviours
       – Engagement and commitment in physical activity

Question 7

What are three examples of the result of having a poor body image?

Answer 7

1. Anorexia nervosa
       – Restrictive type
       – binge-eating/purging type
2. Bulimia nervosa
3. Muscle dysmorphia
       – characterized by pre-occupation with appearance, perceive muscles to be too small, consumed by weightlifting, dieting and behaviours that will enhance musculature

Question 8

What factors have been reported to influence body image? (7)

Answer 8

1. Interpersonal factors
2. Psychological factors
3. Behaviours
4. Perceptions of the physical environment
5. Physical characteristics
6. Sociocultural influences
7. Physical changes

Question 9

What are the moderators of social physique anxiety?

Answer 9

– Age
– increases with maturation in adolescence
– Lower in older adults
– Gender
– Higher in females across the lifespan
– Weight
– positive relationship with SPA
– Exercise classification
– exercises report less SPA than inactive or non-exercises

Question 10

Research linking Exercise to Global Self-Esteem and Self-Concept

Answer 10

– Exercise appears to have a small influence
– Frequency, intensity and mode – not important
– Duration – avoid exercising > 60min
– Recommendations – program > 12 weeks
– Improvements in physical fitness is important
– Improvements in physical self-concept may not influence physical acceptance
– subjective and affective component
– Try not to facilitate physical acceptance as well

Question 11

Describe the study by Halliwell, Dittmar and Orsborn (2007)

Answer 11

–non-exercising versus regular exercising males were exposed to images of muscular male models or control images
– non-exercisers reported greater body-focused negative affect
– regular exercises reported less negative body-focused affect

Question 12

Summarize the study by Driediger (2012)

Answer 12

– Asked: What features do you prefer in a physiotherapy environment?

   1. Patients more likely to report greater SPA if they experience more self-presentation variables
   2. Women reported significantly higher SPA than men

Question 13

Summarize the research on injury rehabilitation (Driediger, 2016)

Answer 13

– Increase understanding of the role that self-presentation plays in women’s attitudes and preferences for rehabilitation settings
– Used semi-structured interviews
– Results:
– Social physique concerns
– Fear of being evaluated negatively
– Injury validity
– # of people
– Social Setting Preferences
– Gender
– Age
– Physical ability
– Physical Setting Preferences
– Curtained bed/private room
– Windows and mirrors invoke anxiety
– Behavioural Concerns
– Participants were adamant that they wouldn’t wear shorts and a tank top
– Safety
– Adherence
– Physiotherapist characteristics
– Kind, caring, empathetic, good listener, non-judgmental
– same gender