Physical Activity Intensity and Body Appreciation in Adolescent Girls
Keywords:
Physical Activity, Physical Activity Intensity, Body Appreciation, Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, AdolescenceAbstract
Background: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical activity (PA) levels have sharply declined among youth. This is concerning given the mental and physical health benefits associated with PA participation, which include improved cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength/endurance, cognitive functioning, and psychosocial health. Among girls, one prominent factor contributing to disengagement from PA is body image, which generally happens during the transition to adolescence. To date, most research focuses on interventions aimed at improving negative body image in PA and sport. However, these interventions neglect the importance of cultivating a positive body image among individuals. More research is needed to understand the relationship of PA intensity in helping adolescent girls cultivate a positive body image. Purpose: This research examines the relationship between PA participation and body appreciation and the role that exercise intensity plays in helping adolescent girls cultivate body appreciation. Methods: Physical activity was measured using accelerometry and body appreciation was assessed using the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS-2) in addition to semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses were completed for physical activity and body appreciation. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the qualitative data. Results: Findings from semi-structured interviews suggest that participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity intensity in addition to light physical activity promotes a more positive perception of one’s body image. Conclusion: Overall, it seems that participation in higher intensity physical activities, namely, competitive sports in addition to lower intensity physical activities can help adolescent girls cultivate higher levels of body appreciation.
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