Motor ability and self-esteem: The mediating role of physical self-concept and perceived social acceptance

One important issue in sport and exercise psychology is to determine to what extent sports and exercise can help to increase self-esteem, and what the underlying mechanism might be. Based on the exercise and self-esteem model (EXSEM) and on findings from the sociometer theory, the mediating effect o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology of sport and exercise 2015-03, Vol.17, p.15-23
Main Authors: Schmidt, Mirko, Blum, Markus, Valkanover, Stefan, Conzelmann, Achim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Gender
Self-perceptions
Sport competence
Structural equation modelling
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Summary:One important issue in sport and exercise psychology is to determine to what extent sports and exercise can help to increase self-esteem, and what the underlying mechanism might be. Based on the exercise and self-esteem model (EXSEM) and on findings from the sociometer theory, the mediating effect of physical self-concept and perceived social acceptance on the longitudinal relationship between motor ability and self-esteem was investigated. Longitudinal study with three waves of data collection at intervals of ten weeks each. 428 adolescents (46.3% girls, Mage = 11.9, SD = .55) participated in the study, in which they performed three motor ability tests and completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires for physical self-concept and perceived social acceptance, as well as for self-esteem, at all three measuring points. Using structural equation modelling procedures, the multiple mediation model revealed both physical self-concept and perceived social acceptance to be mediators between motor ability and self-esteem in the case of boys. In girls, on the other hand, the mediation between motor ability and self-esteem only takes place via physical self-concept. Gender differences in the relationship between motor ability and self-esteem suggest gender-specific interventions aimed at promoting self-concept. •The longitudinal relation between motor ability and self-esteem was investigated.•We used structural equation modelling to perform a multiple mediation model.•In boys, physical self-concept and perceived social acceptance are mediators.•In girls, only physical self-concept mediates the relationship.
ISSN:1469-0292
DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.11.006