Exercise and Self-Esteem in Menopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial Involving Walking and Yoga

Abstract

Purpose.

To examine the effects of walking and yoga on multidimensional self-esteem and roles played by self-efficacy, body composition, and physical activity (PA) in changes in esteem.

Design.

Four-month randomized controlled exercise trial with three arms: walking, yoga, and control.

Subjects.

Previously low-active middle-aged women (n = 164; M age = 49.9; SD = 3.6).

Intervention.

Structured and supervised walking program meeting three times per week for 1 hour and supervised yoga program meeting twice per week for 90 minutes.

Measures.

Body composition, fitness assessment, and battery of psychologic measures.

Analysis.

Panel analysis within a structural equation modeling framework using Mplus 3.0.

Results.

The walking and yoga interventions failed to enhance global or physical self-esteem but improved subdomain esteem relative to physical condition and strength (for walking) and body attractiveness (for both walking and yoga). Over time the effects of PA, self-efficacy, and body fat on changes in physical self-esteem and global esteem were mediated by changes in physical condition and body attractiveness subdomain esteem. Women reporting greater levels of self-efficacy and PA with lower body fat also reported greater enhancements in subdomain esteem.

Conclusion.

These results provide support for the hierarchic and multidimensional nature of self-esteem and indicate that middle-aged women may enhance certain aspects of physical self-esteem by participating in PA.

Keywords

Physical Activity Exercise Self-Esteem Physical Self Midlife Randomized Controlled Trial Prevention Research Format: research Research purpose: intervention testing Study design: randomized trial Outcome measure: cognitive,behavioral,biometric Setting: local community Health focus: physical activity Strategy: behavior change Target population age: adults Target population circumstances: middle-aged women with varying education/income levels and mixed racial-ethnicity status residing in Illinois

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