ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2015 April;174(4):143-52

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Association between physical and psychological dimensions in women after 16 weeks of exercise

Mendonça R. M. ¹, Araújo Júnior A. T. ¹, Sousa M. S. ², Fernandes H. M. ¹

¹ Sport Sciences, Research Centre for Sports, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Trás‑os‑Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; ² Sport Sciences, Laboratory of Kinanthropometry and Human Performance (LABOCINE), Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa, PB Brazil

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of physical and psychological dimensions of women after 16 weeks of exercise.
METHODS: A longitudinal study method was applied. It focused on a probability sample selected in gyms and a municipal public institution and was randomly distributed into 04 groups: strength training (SG); dance (DG); hydrogymnastic (HG) and control group (CG). Questionnaires on psychological dimensions including satisfaction with physical appearance (SPA), health perception (HP), body image perception (BIP) using the Scale of Stunkard silhouettes, self-esteem (SE) using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and depression (D) using an adapted Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI) were filled. A collection of anthropometric data was carried out in order to estimate the body fat percentage (F%) and the intervention was conducted at pre and post period. The 8 maximum repetition (RM) test on BG and all American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) requirements were applied. The Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 20 was used for the average, standard deviation, Pearson’s correlation of deltas (Δ%), Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality and 5% significance.
RESULTS: The results of the study per group were that the strength training group had a high correlation of (r=0.541) on lean body mass and body image perception. The dance group had a correlation of health perception and body fat percentage of (r=-0.739) and fat mass of (r=-0.706). The same group had a correlation of body image perception and body fat of r=-0699 along with fat mass of (r=-0.653) and lean body mass of (r=0.605). The correlation of self-esteem and lean body mass was (r=0.522) and the correlation between satisfaction with physical appearance and abdominal perimeter was (r=-0.509). A moderate correlation between satisfaction with physical appearance and abdominal perimeter of (r=-0.482) showed the hydrogymnastic group as well as self-esteem and body fat the percentage of (r=-0.455). The control group had a correlation of self-esteem and body mass of (r=-0.434) and a positive correlation between depression and body fat percentage of (r=0.443).
CONCLUSION: The main conclusion was that the dimensions are correlated according to the type of activity, body composition and psychological aspects. It indicated further that the dance group was the most effective.