Maturational timing, physical self-perceptions and physical activity in UK adolescent females : investigation of a mediated effects model

Cumming, Sean P and Harrington, Deirdre M and Davis, Melanie J and Edwardson, Charlotte L and Gorely, Trish and Khunti, Kamlesh and Rowlands, Alex V and Yates, Thomas and Sherar, Lauren B (2020) Maturational timing, physical self-perceptions and physical activity in UK adolescent females : investigation of a mediated effects model. Annals of Human Biology, 47 (4). pp. 384-390. ISSN 0301-4460 (https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2020.1784277)

[thumbnail of Cumming-etal-AHB-2020-Maturational-timing-physical-self-perceptions-and-physical-activity]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Cumming_etal_AHB_2020_Maturational_timing_physical_self_perceptions_and_physical_activity.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript
Download (426kB)| Preview

Abstract

Background: Advanced (early) biological maturation may be a risk factor for inactivity among adolescent girls. Aim: To test the mediational effects of body attractiveness and physical self-worth on the relationship between biological maturity and accelerometer assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a large multi-ethnic sample of girls from the Midlands area in the UK (11–14 years). Subjects and methods: Biological maturity (predicting age at peak height velocity (APHV)); self-perceptions of body attractiveness, physical self-worth, and minutes spent in MVPA were assessed in 1062 females aged 11–14 years. Results: Structural equation modelling using maximum likelihood estimation and boot- strapping procedures supported the hypothesised model. Later maturation predicted higher perceptions of body attractiveness (β = 0.25, p

ORCID iDs

Cumming, Sean P, Harrington, Deirdre M ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0278-6812, Davis, Melanie J, Edwardson, Charlotte L, Gorely, Trish, Khunti, Kamlesh, Rowlands, Alex V, Yates, Thomas and Sherar, Lauren B;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)