PERCEIVED PHYSICAL COMPETENCE IN ADULTS - AN EXAMINATION OF THE PHYSICAL SELF-PERCEPTION PROFILE

The purpose of this research was to assess the structure and validity of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) when used with adults in their middle and later years. Females (n=149) and males (n=111) completed the four subdomain scales (sport competence, physical condition, attractive body, strength); the more general domain scale, physical self-worth; and a global self-esteem scale. PSPP scales manifested strong internal consistency, validly separated exercisers from nonexercisers (Canonical R=.71 for females, .64 for males, and predicted degree of exercise involvement (Canonical R=.73 for females, .64 for males). Principal-component analyses revealed scale overlap for the scales for physical self-worth and attractive body. Although future PSPP users are warned of probable redundancy in these two scales, continued use and study of PSPP scales is strongly encouraged.