Introduction Section

1
The Role of Exercise In Self-Esteem
Kiyaari Wilson
Research Methods
Radford University
2
Abstract
3
The Role of Exercise in Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is something that everyone has to deal with whether that be in a negative or positive
light. More specifically, college students tend to battle with these thoughts when negative.
Physical exercise is known to have a positive impact on self-esteem and well-being. Not only
that, but it also improves the basic qualities of life and mental health (Shang et al., 2021). When
being active, the average student feels a sense of accomplishment and their body image
perception improves. Knowing the relationship between physical activity, well-being, and self-
esteem is extremely significant when trying to better understand how to help college students
improve their quality of life in all aspects.
Various studies have stated that there is a correlation between physical exercise and self-
esteem. More importantly, there is a positive relationship between exercise and self-esteem.
Physical acceptance, self-efficacy, and physical competence are the few perceptions of self-
esteem that exercise is heavily associated with (Sani et al., 2016). In this study, self-esteem will
be based on the different levels of self evaluation using the Rosenberg scale.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is how one views themselves in all aspects. This could be different for
everyone, however, everyone must deal with the ups and downs of it. Physical activity and the
components of it can either negatively or positively alter one's self-esteem. College students,
especially freshmen, are impacted by this. Due to the widespread belief of the freshman 15,
which is the belief that first time and first semester college students are likely to gain 15 pounds
of weight (Mihalopoulos et al., 2008). One particular study found that freshmen were likely to
gain weight, as much as 5.5 times as much as the other students on campus, however, there have
been different results for varying studies done on the same thing making it difficult to confirm or
4
deny this belief (Mihalopoulos et al., 2008). In regards to exercising or the lack thereof, this
belief causes students to feel insecure within themselves and creates a negative relationship with
not exercising and self-esteem.
Well-Being & Self-Esteem
Self-esteem has a direct correlation with health and if someone's self-esteem is on the
lower side, it could be detrimental to their physical and mental health. Students in college are a
big target for this specifically because they are young adults and are currently in the transition
between adolescence and adulthood (Arsandaux et al., 2020). Most students partake in different
substances while in college and that can be for varying reasons. There are some who do it
recreationally, but there are others who’s self-esteem dictates how they go through life.
Sometimes it can be a matter of students using these substances or abusing these substances. It is
important to note that both well-being and self-esteem go hand in hand and can definitely be the
cause for the other. While negative self-esteem can lead to detrimental health behaviors, the
well-being of a student can also negatively affect their self-esteem by taking part in negative
behaviors (Arsandaux et al., 2020).
The Problem
The purpose of this study was to dissect the relationship between well-being, self-esteem,
and levels of exercising. Research on these topics have shown that there are consequences to
students' health and self-esteem when not indulging in physical activities. The lack of exercise
can lead to low self-esteem which can then lead to risky health decision making. For this study,
self-esteem and well-being were being measured by how often a student exercises and takes part
in physical activity. This study included the rabbit hole of different levels of exercising and its
effects on health and self-esteem.

5
We hypothesized (H1) that students who exercise daily will have better self-esteem than
those who do not exercise at all. H2 stated that men would have a higher self-esteem. H3 was
that well-being is positively related to self-esteem and vice versa. H4 suggested that exercising
will be positively related to well-being.

6
References
Gothe, N. P., Erlenbach, E., & Engels, H.-J. (2022). Exercise and self-esteem model:
Validity in a sample of healthy female adolescents. Current Psychology: A Journal for
Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, 41(12), 8876–8884
Shang, Y., Xie, H.-D., & Yang, S.-Y. (2021). The relationship between physical exercise and
subjective well-being in college students: The mediating effect of body image and self-
esteem. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.
Svedberg, P. (2022). Factors of importance for self-related health [ProQuest Information
& Learning]. In Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and
Engineering (Vol. 83, Issue 2–B).
Zhao, Y. (2021). The effect of physical exercise on college students’ mental health and
general self-efficacy. Revista de Psicología Del Deporte, 30(4), 167–174.
Sani, S. H. Z., Fathirezaie, Z., Brand, S., Pühse, U., Holsboer-Trachsler, E., Gerber, M., &
Talepasand, S. (2016). Physical activity and self-esteem: testing direct and indirect
relationships associated with psychological and physical mechanisms. Neuropsychiatric
Disease and Treatment, Volume 12(12), 2617–2625. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s116811
Arsandaux, J., Montagni, I., Macalli, M., Bouteloup, V., Tzourio, C., & Galéra, C. (2020).
Health Risk Behaviors and Self-Esteem Among College Students: Systematic Review of
Quantitative Studies. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 27(2), 142–159.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-020-09857-w
Mihalopoulos, N. L., Auinger, P., & Klein, J. D. (2008). The Freshman 15: Is it Real?
Journal of American College Health, 56(5), 531–534.
https://doi.org/10.3200/jach.56.5.531-534
7

Introduction Section

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction Section

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction Section

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1

The Role of Exercise In Self-Esteem

The Role of Exercise in Self-Esteem

improve their quality of life in all aspects.

not exercising and self-esteem.

Well-Being & Self-Esteem

behaviors (Arsandaux et al., 2020).

effects on health and self-esteem.

will be positively related to well-being.

Validity in a sample of healthy female adolescents. Current Psychology: A Journal for

Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, 41(12), 8876–8884

esteem. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.

Svedberg, P. (2022). Factors of importance for self-related health [ProQuest Information

& Learning]. In Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and

Engineering (Vol. 83, Issue 2–B).

general self-efficacy. Revista de Psicología Del Deporte, 30(4), 167–174.

relationships associated with psychological and physical mechanisms. Neuropsychiatric

Disease and Treatment, Volume 12(12), 2617–2625. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s116811

Quantitative Studies. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 27(2), 142–159.

Journal of American College Health, 56(5), 531–534.

You might also like