Effect of a physical activity intervention on personality and self-perception in black girls: relations with changes in fitness and body composition

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of a 10-mo physical activity (PA) intervention on personality and self-perception, and how these changes related to changes in fitness and body composition. METHODS Subjects were 102 8–12 y old black girls. Measures included: (1) weight, waist circumference (WC), and %body fat, (2) cardiovascular fitness (CVF), and, (3) self-report of various psychosocial variables as measured by the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC). RESULTS Baseline correlations revealed no significant relationships of the BASC variables with CVF or body composition measures (p > 0.05). The correlation between Anxiety and CVF approached significance (r= −0.18, p = 0.10). The same was true for the correlation between Esteem and WC (r = −0.18, p = 0.07). After the 10-mo period, all individuals were classified as either: (1) having improved their score or, (2) having stayed the same or declined on each BASC variable. Chi-Square analyses showed that the proportion of individuals who improved their Clinical Maladjustment score was significantly higher in the PA group compared to the control group (75% vs 55%%, respectively, p < 0.05). The same was true for the Personal Adjustment score (66% vs 47%%, respectively, p < 0.05). The changes in the BASC variables over the 10-mo period were not significantly associated with changes in CVF or body composition (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Results suggest that in young black girls: (1) participation in a PA program was related to decreased reports of distress and improved interpersonal relations, self-acceptance and identity development, and (2) individual differences in CVF and body composition were not related to BASC scores, either at baseline or in response to a PA intervention. Supported by NIH (HL64972).