Self-Belief Does Make A Difference: A Reciprocal Effects Model of the Causal Ordering of Physical Self-concept and Gymnastics Performance

Herbert W. Marsh (1) , Julien Chanal (2) , Philippe Sarrazin (2)

1 SELF Research Centre
2 SENS - Sport et Environnement Social

A large body of research in support of the reciprocal effects model of causal ordering demonstrates that prior academic self-concept predicts subsequent academic achievement beyond what can be explained in terms of prior achievement. Here we evaluate the generalizability of this support for the reciprocal effects model to a physical activity context in which achievement is reflected in gymnastics skills on a standardized gymnastics performance test evaluated by expert judges. Based on responses by 376 adolescents collected at the start (T1) and end (T2) of a gymnastics training program, findings support a reciprocal effects model in which there are significant paths leading from both T1 gymnastics self-concept to T2 gymnastics skills and from T1 gymnastics skills to T2 self-concept. Although there were gender and age effects (girls and older participants had better gymnastics skills, boys had higher self-concepts), multiple group structural equation models indicated that support for the reciprocal effects model generalized over responses by boys and girls. In summary, self-concept and performance are both determinants and consequences of each other.

Domaines: Psychologie

Herbert W. Marsh, Julien Chanal, Philippe Sarrazin. Self-Belief Does Make A Difference: A Reciprocal Effects Model of the Causal Ordering of Physical Self-concept and Gymnastics Performance. Journal of Sports Sciences, 2006, 24 (1), pp.101-111. ⟨10.1080/02640410500130920⟩. ⟨hal-00389009⟩