Self-esteem in girls: does physical education make a difference

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in a girls' physical education class can contribute to the development of self-esteem. At a rural high school in southern Alberta, students enrolled in two grade ten physical education classes for girls in the first semester were selected as participants in the study. During the semester, which ran from September to January, a variety of units were taught involving both individual and teamwork activities. The One-Group Pretest-Posttest Model was used. The girls were asked to complete the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI), which provided total and subscale self-esteem scores. The pretest was administered September 17,2001, and the posttest January 15,2002. After both tests were completed, the mean scores were compared using a Paired (-test. The results revealed no significant difference between the pretest and posttest, in either the subscales or total scores for self-esteem for either class. Consequently, participation in a physical education class over a single semester was not shown to have had an impact on the self-esteem of these girls. Nevertheless, physical education instructors are cautioned to create environments designed to encourage rather than undermine the development of students' positive self-esteem.