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Women, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life: Self-concept as a Mediator

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2016

Tamara Gonzalo Silvestre  and
Silvia Ubillos Landa
Tamara Gonzalo Silvestre*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Burgos (Spain)
Silvia Ubillos Landa
Affiliation:
Universidad de Burgos (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Tamara Gonzalo Silvestre. Facultad de Educación. Departamento de Ciencias de la Educación. Área de Psicología Social. C/ Villadiego, s/n. 09001. Burgos (Spain). E-mail: tgs0001@alu.ubu.es
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Abstract

The objectives of this research are: (a) analyze the incremental validity of physical activity’s (PA) influence on perceived quality of life (PQL); (b) determine if PA’s predictive power is mediated by self-concept; and (c) study if results vary according to a unidimensional or multidimensional approach to self-concept measurement. The sample comprised 160 women from Burgos, Spain aged 18 to 45 years old. Non-probability sampling was used. Two three-step hierarchical regression analyses were applied to forecast PQL. The hedonic quality-of-life indicators, self-concept, self-esteem, and PA were included as independent variables. The first regression analysis included global self-concept as predictor variable, while the second included its five dimensions. Two mediation analyses were conducted to see if PA’s ability to predict PQL was mediated by global and physical self-concept. Results from the first regression shows that self-concept, satisfaction with life, and PA were significant predictors. PA slightly but significantly increased explained variance in PQL (2.1%). In the second regression, substituting global self-concept with its five constituent factors, only the physical dimension and satisfaction with life predicted PQL, while PA ceased to be a significant predictor. Mediation analysis revealed that only physical self-concept mediates the relationship between PA and PQL (z = 1.97, p < .050), and not global self-concept. Physical self-concept was the strongest predictor and approximately 32.45 % of PA’s effect on PQL was mediated by it. This study’s findings support a multidimensional view of self-concept, and represent a more accurate image of the relationship between PQL, PA, and self-concept.

Keywords

physical activityquality of lifeself-conceptwomen
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 19 , 2016 , E6
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2016 

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