The Effects of Running on Self-Concept and Self-Efficacy.

This study was conducted to examine whether changes in self-concept would occur as the result of participation in a 7-week running program. It was hypothesized that participation in a running program would have a significant, positive effect on global self-concept and more specifically, its components of self-efficacy and perceptions of the physical self. Subjects included 51 university students who completed the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, the Self Efficacy Scale, a perceived level of physical fitness scale, and a task specific self-efficacy scale before and after participating in the 7-week running program. The results revealed significant experimental group gains from the pre- to the post-test, suggesting the utility of running as a self-concept enhancing activity. Furthermore, the use of perceptions of physical fitness and self-efficacy as dependent variables in assessing the effects of exercise on self-concept is indicated. (NB)