17th Annual Student Research Conference
Human Potential and Performance
Strength Training and its Affect on Over-all Body Satisfaction in Females
Ryan L. Stewart
Dr. Jerry Mayhew and Dr. Alex J. Koch, Faculty Mentors
Strength training has long been employed to improve personal fitness, athletic performance, and psychological well being. The purpose of this project was to test the effects of a strength training program on body satisfaction. Nine untrained college-age women participated in a five week strength training program. The project used free weight bench press and back squats for training, and questionnaires to assess body image and self-esteem. Over the five week training program strength in the 1RM squat and bench press and self-esteem were significantly (p ≤0.05) increased. Body image did not significantly improve. However, changes in body image over the five week period were significantly related to increases in strength, while changes in self-esteem were not. These data indicate that a short duration strength training program can yield significant improvements in the self-esteem of previously untrained college-age women.
Keywords: body satisfaction, strength training, women & self-esteem
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 31-4
Location: VH 1408
Time: 3:00