Self - Concept Physical Self

What is the self-concept?

- How we think and feel about ourselves, our attributes, and our abilities

- Traits, Beliefs, roles, identities, and descriptions

- Important to our psychological and physical well-being

What is identity?

• Unique and distinctive self -descriptions situated in the context of a particular role

• Integral component of self -concept

• Developed through similar evaluative and

comparative processes to self -concept

• Identity salience leads to behavioural choices that are in accordance with the expectations attached to that identity

What is self-esteem?

• The evaluative or affective consequence of one's self concept

• The extent to which one feels positive or negative about one's self -concept

• Contingent on positive evaluations of self

What is self-compassion?

• Kind, caring and non -judgmental attitude towards the self

• Unconditional positive self -regard

• Response to negative self -evaluation

What are the three spectrums of self-compassion?

- Self-kindness vs. Self-Judgement

- Mindfulness vs. Overidentification

- Common Humanity vs. Isolation

What is self-esteem and exercise?

- Historically considered the most important psychological outcome

- Meta- analysis of the effects of exercise interventions on adults' global self - esteem found consistent but small effects

- it appears that the benefits of exercise for GSE are overstated in the literature

- Frequency, intensity, duration, type, and length of program were not significant moderators

- Increases in self - esteem were 2x larger when physical fitness improved

- Consistent findings in young, middle - aged, and older adults

What are objective changes?

in fitness may not be necessary for self - esteem to improve

What are subjective perceptions?

Subjective perceptions (e.g., physical competence) are likely more critical

What is self-compassion and Exercise?

- Linked to intrinsic motivation, external and introjected motivation

- Self - compassion predicts sustained exercise behaviour

- Promotes exercise goal reengagement after an exercise setback

What is the self-concept model?

What is physical self-concept and exercise?

- Meta- analysis found positive relationship between exercise and positive physical self - concept

- Subdomains such as perceived competence and perceived fitness were comparably related to exercise as overall physical self - concept

- Limited to observational studies

What is the bottom-up approach - Skill development hypothesis?

Exercise impacts global self - esteem by affecting domain - specific aspects of the self

What is the top-down approach - skill - enhancement hypothesis?

Global aspects of the self influence specific self - perceptions which impact what individuals are motivated to engage in (e.g., exercise)

What is the reciprocal effect approach?

What type of construct is body image? What are the 4 key factors?

• Perceptual

• Cognitive

• Affective

• Behavioural

What is body image?

• Captures both the body's appearance and function

• Positive and negative facets

What are some influencing factors for body image?

How does body image relate to exercise?

Correlate, predictor and outcome of exercise determinants and behaviour

- Exercise can lead to significant improvements in body image

What are the effects of exercise behaviour on body image?

• Strongest effects for adults

• Stronger effects for higher - weight participants

• Equal effects for men and women (Basset - Gunter et al., 2017)

• Stronger effects for higher frequency and moderate to vigorous intensity

Exercise behaviour → Body Image

• Improvements in body image regardless of change in fitness or body composition (Martin Ginis et al., 2014; Campbell & Hausenblas , 2009).

• No effect of exercise type (e.g., aerobic, resistance, etc.) or duration - acute effects possible (LePage & Crowther, 2010)

• Increased self - efficacy possible - increase in functional perceptions of what the body can do

What is the best type of exercise for body image?

Mind- body connected type exercise (e.g., yoga, belly dancing) have been associated specifically with higher positive body image (body appreciation, body pride)

• Exercise can be used to promote embodiment ("positive body connection and comfort, embodied agency and passion, and attuned self- care"

Competitive movement can:

• Capitalize on mind - body integration (i.e., flow states)

• Devote considerable effort to developing skills, strength, stamina

• Promote an internally oriented body experience

How does body image influence exercise?

• Body image concerns often cited as motive to start exercising

• Not effective for adherence

• Exercising primarily for appearance vs health motives associated with worse body image and mental health (Hurst et al., 2017)

• Fitspiration linked with worsened mood and body dissatisfaction

• Not predictive of exercise behavior

What can body image concerns lead to?

Body image concerns lead to avoidance of physique - salient exercise contexts

- Revealing exercise attire

- Physique- focused verbal cues

- Mirrors and "fitspiration" images

Physique- evaluative exercise contexts lead to psychophysiological consequences in inactive women

How does the sporting context impact body image?

• The girls sport context is considered to be physique - salient, highly evaluative towards the body, and perpetuates body and weight ideals for girls

• Outside of sport, appearance - based body talk (fat talk, teasing, compliments) reinforce attention towards the body, promotes objectification and social comparisons, and increases negative body image

• Weight and body talk is the norm is girls sport

• Maladaptive declines in body emotions over time in girl athletes

• Poor body image reduces sport enjoyment and increases risk of dropout among girl athletes

• Poor body image increases risk of mental illness, including disordered eating and depressive symptoms