The relationship between sport commitment and physical self-concept: Evidence for the self-enhancement hypothesis among adolescent females

ABSTRACT

Perceptions of physical self-concept are critical to physical activity participation. In line with the reciprocal effects model of causal ordering (REM), higher perceptions of physical self-concept can function as a facilitator to physical activity, and can arise as a result of engaging in physical activity. While this relationship has been predominantly tested in physical activity contexts, directional tests between physical self-concept and sport specific outcomes are limited. The current study aimed to evaluate the generalizability of the REM to sport commitment and physical self-concept in youth athletes. Over 24 months, adolescent females (N = 215) completed self-report questionnaires at Time 1 (T1) and two years later (Time 2; T2). Using structural equation modeling, the reciprocal effects model demonstrated that the path leading from T1 physical self-concept to T2 sport commitment was significant (p = .02), whereas the path leading from T1 sport commitment to T2 physical self-concept was not significant (p = .23). The results suggest a unidirectional relationship and may underscore the importance of focusing on the physical self-concept in the development of strategies geared towards improving adolescent female’s sport participation.

KEYWORDS:

• Sport participation
• reciprocal effects model
• sport engagement
• physical self-perceptions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) grant awarded to CMS. EP was supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) postdoctoral fellowship during the completion of this study. CMS holds a Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Mental Health (Tier II).