Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy

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Self-Perceived Fitness Amongst Adolescent Schoolboys K. L. Lamb; W. B. Haworth Online Publication Date: 01 January 1998 To cite this Article: Lamb, K. L. and Haworth, W. B. (1998) 'Self-Perceived Fitness Amongst Adolescent Schoolboys', Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy, 3:2, 167 — 177 To link to this article: DOI: 10.1080/1740898980030205 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1740898980030205

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European Journal of Physical Education, 1998, 3, 167-177

Self-Perceived Fitness Amongst Adolescent Schoolboys K.L. Lamb and W.B. Haworth This study examined the inter-relationships between self-perceived and actual indicators of fitness among a sample of 60 adolescent school-boys (mean age 15.4 years, SD = 0.6). Self-perceived fitness (SPF) was assessed using a five-component questionnaire in which subjects indicated on a 13-point rating scale their perceived endurance, flexibility, strength, body composition, and overall fitness. Scores for each SPF item (except body composition) were found to be well distributed in the sample and significantly (p0.70) between the endurance and strength components and their corresponding SPF scales indicate a fair level of perceptual accuracy, and are a marked improvement on the associations reported by Marsh and Redmayne (1994), who used the same strength measure, but a 12-minute run as their endurance test. Additionally, the present relationship between overall SPF and endurance fitness (0.68) is more than twice that observed by Marsh (1993), whose endurance measure was the average running speed over a 1.6 km run. Conversely, the modest correlation (0.45) between perceived and measured flexibility, though also higher than in Marsh and Redmayne's (1994) study, reflects considerable inaccuracy, probably due to a limited 'exposure' to the flexibility component, and/or the questionable validity of the sit-and-reach test. The composite SPF score, whilst significantly related to endurance and strength measures, did not prove to the particularly informative in the current analysis. The lack of relationship between the global fitness question and the measure of fatness (rho = -0.14) suggests a concept of fitness devoid of the body composition dimension. Marsh's (1993) 'comparable' analysis was less dismissive, however, the correlation being higher (-0.33) and based on 2,681 boys and girls aged 9-15 years. Furthermore, for the 15 year-olds in his sample, the correlation was -0.37. Any attempt to explain these differences (and also those referred to above) is immediately confounded by methodological discrepancies between the two studies. That is, Marsh's SPF question limited responses to one of three ratings (compared to 13), and his assessment of body composition used the sum of five skinfold thicknesses (compared to two). Yet, the present finding is reinforced somewhat by the low, non-significant association between perceived body composition and skinfold thicknesses. Though this is surprising, given the specificity of the questionnaire item, such an apparent mis-perception of body composition is not a new discovery. Fox (1994) hinted that adolescents' notions of over-fat are inaccurate, resulting in unnecessary dietary restraint, and possibly reduced self-esteem. 172


The strong correlation (0.84) between overall perception of fitness and perceived endurance (cardio-respiratory) fitness, suggests that, in many cases, the two concepts are almost synonymous. Furthermore, as none of the other SPF items were significantly related to overall fitness, support is not provided for the sole use of a single global question in assessing adolescents' perceived fitness. It seems that such a question would provide information just on their perceived endurance fitness, and not tap into their awareness of the other components of the fitness construct. Amongst adults, this appears not to be the case. Delignieres et al. (1994) using the present questionnaire with 247 men and women, reported both a good correlation between global SPF and perceived endurance (0.74) and modest (>0.40), but significant correlations with perceived strength, flexibility, and body composition. Adults appear to be able to dissect the term "fitness", whereas children require assistance in the form of the multi-component classification.

CONCLUSION The key implication of the present findings is that for future investigations in which children's perceptions of fitness are deemed important, such as those concerned with nurturing self-esteem or self-worth through physical activity and the development of physical abilities, or those dealing with the impact of school-based health-related fitness education and monitoring, measurement should be addressed from a multi-dimensional perspective. Without this, the outcomes of any interventions may be obscured or inappropriately evaluated. A questionnaire such as that used in this study (or a modified version where language comprehension is threatened) can provide the means to represent the perceived fitness construct in children.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors would like to thank the Physical Education staff at King's School, Chester, and the boys of Year 11 for their willing participation in this study.

CORRESPONDENCE Please address correspondence to Kevin Lamb PhD, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University College Chester, Chester, CH1 4BJ, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

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APPENDIX SELF-PERCEIVED FITNESS QUESTIONNAIRE In each of the fitness scales below, please circle the value (1 to 13) that you think best describes your current level. The statements that appear above the options are there as a guide to help you understand what each scale refers to. Please answer honestly, as all information given will be treated in strict confidence.

FITNESS I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13

/ am completely unfit. / have a poor fitness level with regard to my age. My fitness is slightly below the average for those of my age. My fitness is quite normal with regard to my age. My fitness is slightly above average for those of my age. / have a very good fitness level with regard to my age. I am exceptionally fit.

STRENGTH This scale refers to your capacity to perform intense muscular work of a short duration, e.g. lifting, carrying heavy objects (weights). 1 I have absolutely no strength. 175


2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

/ have poor strength with regard to my age. My strength is slightly below the average for those of my age. My strength is quite normal with regard to my age. My strength is slightly above average for those of my age. / am very strong with regard to my age. / have exceptional strength.

ENDURANCE This scale refers to your ability to sustain prolonged effort, e.g. in running, walking, cycling. I 2 3 4 5 6 •7 .8 9 10 I1 12 13

/ have absolutely no endurance. / have poor endurance with regard to my age. My endurance is slightly below the average for those of my age. My endurance is quite normal with regard to my age. My endurance is slightly above average for those of my age. / have very good endurance with regard to mv age. / have exceptional endurance.

FLEXIBILITY This scale refers to your capacity to perform movements requiring bending, stretching etc. 1 / am definitely not flexible. 2 3 / have poor flexibility with regard to my age. 4 5 My flexibility is slightly below the average for those of my age. 6 7 My flexibility is quite normal with regard to my age. 8 9 My flexibility is slightly above average for those of my age. 10 1 1 / have very good flexibility with regard to my age. 12 13 I have exceptional flexibility. 176


BODY COMPOSITION This scale refers to the relative amounts of fat and muscle in your body. I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13

/ am abnormally fat. I am too fat with regard to my age. I am a little too fat with regard to my age. My body fat is quite normal with regard to my age. I am quite lean with regard to my age. I am very lean with regard to my age. 7 am exceptionally lean.

Ill