Purposes: To investigate the differences of self-esteem and body image among college students participating different levels of exercise. Methods: A total of 839 college students (Male=424, Female=415, aged 20.8+1.0) recruiting from regions of Yun-lin, Chia-yi, and Tainan were assessed through utilizing self-report survey instruments including: 1. Seven-day Physical Activity Recall (PAR); 2. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and 3. the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, One-way ANOVA, MANOVA, and post hoc analyses using the Scheffe test for multiple comparisons of the three different levels of physical activity (PA) groups on total self-esteem, and the seven MBSRQ subscales. Results: 1. Students who had higher levels of exercise participation, had significantly higher self-esteem scores (p<.05). Through utilizing multiple comparison, no significant differences (p>.05) were found between high to mid levels and mid to low levels of exercise participation in self-esteem scores; 2. Significant differences were found among college students participating different levels of exercise in the subscales of fitness evaluation (F=16.03), fitness orientation (F=64.18), health evaluation (F=4.30), health orientation (F=10.25) and illness orientation (F=4.45) of body image, 3. Exercise participation, body image and self esteem had significant positive correlations (p<.05). Conclusion: The more the exercise participation, the better the self-esteem and body image in college students, exercise participation might be an effective way to improve the self-perceptions of college students. Thus, the importance of increasing PA at the college level should be reinforced and implemented. This finding provides a basis for research aimed at determining the relationship between self-perceptions and PA. Finally, mind-body linkage has been proven through this research.
Purposes: To investigate the differences of self-esteem and body image among college students participating different levels of exercise. Methods: A total of 839 college students (Male=424, Female=415, aged 20.8+1.0) recruiting from regions of Yun-lin, Chia-yi, and Tainan were assessed through utilizing self-report survey instruments including: 1. Seven-day Physical Activity Recall (PAR); 2. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and 3. the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, One-way ANOVA, MANOVA, and post hoc analyses using the Scheffe test for multiple comparisons of the three different levels of physical activity (PA) groups on total self-esteem, and the seven MBSRQ subscales. Results: 1. Students who had higher levels of exercise participation, had significantly higher self-esteem scores (p<.05). Through utilizing multiple comparison, no significant differences (p>.05) were found between high to mid levels and mid to low levels of exercise participation in self-esteem scores; 2. Significant differences were found among college students participating different levels of exercise in the subscales of fitness evaluation (F=16.03), fitness orientation (F=64.18), health evaluation (F=4.30), health orientation (F=10.25) and illness orientation (F=4.45) of body image, 3. Exercise participation, body image and self esteem had significant positive correlations (p<.05). Conclusion: The more the exercise participation, the better the self-esteem and body image in college students, exercise participation might be an effective way to improve the self-perceptions of college students. Thus, the importance of increasing PA at the college level should be reinforced and implemented. This finding provides a basis for research aimed at determining the relationship between self-perceptions and PA. Finally, mind-body linkage has been proven through this research.