The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44660

Daniel D. Adame, PhD, MSPH, CHES¹, Steven P. Cole, PhD², and Sally A Radell, MFA¹. (1) Department of Health, Physical Education and Dance, Emory University, Woodruff Physical Education Center 314A, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-727-4092, phyedda@emory.edu, (2) Research Design Associates, 1315 Baptist Church Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

The Relationship of Physical Fitness, Body Image and Locus of Control to Self-Reported Physical Activity and Gender in College Freshmen

The purpose of this study was to assess the relations of physical fitness, body image and locus of control to self-reported physical activity and gender in college freshmen. Two-hundred fifty-six college freshman students (120 women; and 136 men) enrolled in a health course completed the Hall Physical Fitness Test Profile, the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale, and the Cash 69-item Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire. A series of 2 (female, male) x 3 (0 to 1.9 hrs.; 2 to 4.9 hrs.; 5 or more hrs. of exercise per week) analyses of variance were computed to assess possible physical activity and gender differences for physical fitness, body image, and locus of control. Women had higher scores for fitness, appearance and health orientation, overweight preoccupation and self-classified weight. Men had higher scores for appearance evaluation, fitness evaluation and orientation, and body-areas satisfaction. Higher levels of physical activity were associated with higher scores for fitness, fitness evaluation and orientation, health evaluation and orientation, illness orientation, body-areas satisfaction, and internal locus of control. There was a statistically significant interaction between gender and physical activity level for overweight preoccupation. Men's overweight preoccupation scores were associated with higher levels of physical activity while women's overweight preoccupation scores did not change with different levels of physical activity. Physical activity is discussed in relation to the fitness and body image needs of college students.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this poster session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate the relations of physical fitness, body image and locus of control to the self-reported physical activity levels and gender of the study subjects.
• Describe the similarities and differences between women's and men's physical activity level and overweight preoccupation scores.
• List the ten factor subscales of the Cash 69-item Multidimensional Body Self-relations Questionnaire.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.