17th Annual Student Research Conference
Human Potential and Performance
The Relationship of Ethnicity, Gender, and Self-Perceptions Related to Exercise Behavior
Rose A. Buza* and Brynn` E. Weimer
Dr. Christopher D. Lantz, Dr. Debbie J. Rhea (Texas Christian University), Dr. William D. Russell (Eastern Illinois University), and Dr. Jerry Mayhew, Faculty Mentors
This study determined the relationship of ethnicity and gender with self-perceptions related to exercise. Undergraduate students (females = 201; males = 93; age 18-30 years) from three medium-sized midwestern universities completed the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, Self-Presentation in Exercise Questionnaire, and Physical Self-Efficacy Scale. Participants included 144 Caucasians, 100 African-Americans, 21 Hispanic Americans, and 29 Asian Americans. A 2 x 4 MANOVA, univariate follow-up procedures, and Scheffe’s post hoc analyses revealed significant, multivariate effects for gender and ethnicity. For both gender and ethnicity, significant differences were found for social physique anxiety, perceived physical ability, and physical self-presentation confidence. Females reported higher social physique anxiety and lower perceived physical ability and physical self-presentation confidence than males. African-Americans reported lower social physique anxiety and higher perceived physical ability and physical self-presentation confidence than Caucasians, Hispanics, and Asians. These results suggest that males and African-Americans possess better self-perceptions of themselves.
Keywords: social physique, self-presentation, self-efficacy, ethnicity, gender, exercise
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 31-2
Location: VH 1408
Time: 2:30