The impact of aerobic dance on the self-concept of female exercisers

This study determined the impact of aerobic dance on perceptions of physical competence and body acceptance, and their relationship to self-esteem change. Sixty-one female college students who participated in 2 aerobic dance classes per week, for a period of 13 weeks, were compared to a group of 35 female college students not engaged in physical activity. Group comparisons were made both before and after the exercise on measures of physical fitness (e.g., body composition and step test), perceptions of physical competence in four subdomains of the physical self-concept (e.g., sports competence, body attractiveness, physical condition, physical strength) using the Physical Self-Perception Profile, body acceptance using a revised version of the Figure Rating Scale, and global self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Exercisers with low self-esteem showed no changes in physical fitness, physical self-esteem, or global self-esteem. However, increases in ratings within 3 physical competence subdomains (i.e., physical strength, physical condition, and body attractiveness) were noted. Exercisers with high self-esteem also showed no increases in physical fitness, physical self-esteem, or global self-esteem. They did show increases in competence perceptions in 2 subdomains, physical condition and body attractiveness. The low self-esteem exercisers showed increased perceptions of competence in highly valued subdomains of physical strength and body attractiveness to be predictive of increases in global self-esteem. There were no predictive relationships among these variables in the high self-esteem group. These findings show little support for self-esteem change following a moderate level of participation in aerobic dance.;Although there were some changes in ratings of physical competence in subdomains likely to be impacted by an aerobic dance program, these changes are small, and the practical significance of these findings is questionable. Hence, the potential for impact of an aerobic dance program of moderate intensity is smaller than previous claims.;Exercise participants were found to have selected increasingly more slender figure ideals, while also perceiving their body as more slender following the aerobic dance. They did not decrease their level of body acceptance following participation in aerobic dance.