Authors: Marsh, Herbert¹; Chanal, Julien²; Sarrazin, Philippe²

Source: Journal of Sports Sciences, Volume 24, Number 1, Number 1/January 2006 , pp. 101-111(11)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

A large body of research in support of the reciprocal effects model of causal ordering demonstrates that prior academic self-concept predicts subsequent academic achievement beyond what can be explained in terms of prior achievement. Here we evaluate the generalizability of this support for the reciprocal effects model to a physical activity context in which achievement is reflected in gymnastics skills on a standardized gymnastics performance test evaluated by expert judges. Based on the responses of 376 adolescents collected at the start (T1) and end (T2) of a gymnastics training programme, there is support for a reciprocal effects model in which there are significant paths leading from both T1 gymnastics self-concept to T2 gymnastics skills and from T1 gymnastics skills to T2 self-concept. Although there were gender and age effects (girls and older participants had better gymnastics skills, boys had higher self-concepts), multiple group structural equation models indicated that support for the reciprocal effects model generalized over responses by boys and girls. In summary, self-concept and performance are both determinants and consequences of each other.

Keywords: gymnastics performance; multigroup structural equation models; reciprocal effects model; physical self-concept

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640410500130920

Affiliations: 1: SELF Research Centre, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South, NSW, Australia 2: Laboratoire Sport et Environnement Social, Université J. Fourier, Grenoble, France

Publication date: 2006-01-01

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