The role of sense of coherence in the relationship between levels of physical activity and self-esteem among students

[摘要] English: Sense of coherence (SOC) forms part of the positive psychology paradigm and offers insight into many contexts related to the health-disease continuum. Physical activity can easily be connected to this equation as the health benefits of physical activity are well known. Alternatively, self-esteem incorporates a psychological construct that can be influenced by multiple factors found in one's biological, psychological, social and spiritual environments. Furthermore, the emerging adulthood population, which includes university students, is described as being an age of possibilities in various domains of functioning, and therefore makes this an interesting age group on which to conduct research. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the role of SOC on the relationship between physical activity and self-esteem among students.A non-experimental quantitative approach, in accordance with a correlational research design, was used to conduct this study. A sample of 196 student participants between the ages of 18-25 currently studying at The University of the Free State in South Africa were included through a non-probability, convenience type sampling method. This sample comprised of 106 (54.1%) female and 90 (45.9%) male students. Three groups were formed for statistical purposes namely: males, females and a total group. Self-report questionnaires formed a battery of measuring instruments to collect data. This battery included the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adults (PAQ-AD) to measure physical activity levels, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) to measure global self-esteem, and the Orientation to Life Scale (29 items, SOC-29) to measure SOC. Biographical information was obtained through a biographical section subsumed within the PAQ-AD.Results yielded, a significant positive relationship of .193 for the total group regarding physical activity and self-esteem. However, discrepancies were obtained when the total group was split according to gender. A significant positive relationship of .219 was found for male students with regard to the relationship between these two variables, but not for female students. Results suggest that significant positive relationships exist between self-esteem and SOC for all three groups. Furthermore, significant positive correlations were found between physical activity and SOC for all three groups. Lastly, while no mediating/ moderating effect could be obtained for the role of SOC on the relationship between physical activity and self-esteem in female students, SOC was identified to have a mediating role on the relationship between these variables in male students.In conclusion, key findings suggest that gender accounts for variances among male and female students in the relationship between physical activity and self-esteem. Furthermore, differences were observed in terms of the role of SOC in respect to physical activity and self-esteem when investigated for male and female students independently.

[发布机构] University of the Free State