Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being in an Adolescent Population - Abstract

Abstract

Ternowski, D.R. (2000). Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being in an Adolescent Population. Thesis in fulfillment of the requirements for MA in Clinical Psychology. Abstract: There exists a notion that physical activity is positively related to psychological well-being. A review of the literature indicates that this relationship is supported with adults, however, little research has been conducted with adolescents making the validity of this belief unknown. This study examined the relationship between levels of physical activity and measures of self-esteem and emotional distress in an adolescent population. Questions were part of a larger Adolescent Health Survey that obtained information on health and risk behaviors of youth. Participants were 14,568 students attending grades 7 through 12 from different regions of the province of British Columbia, Canada. Results indicated that physical activity was not related to these measures of psychological well-being. These findings suggest that the overall psychological benefits that are traditionally associated with exercise do not apply to most adolescents.