The Influence of Gender, Age, Sport Participation and Family Wealth on Adolescents’ Self-Worth and Out-of-School Physical Activity

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent to which social factors such as gender, age, organized sport participation and family wealth, influence adolescents’ global self-worth and out-of-school physical activity (PA). Seven hundred twenty-one Greek students (346 boys and 375 girls), aged 14 to 16 years old (Mage = 14.97 ± .82 years), voluntarily participated in the present study. Participants completed online questionnaires measuring demographics (gender, age), organized participation in sport clubs, family wealth, global self-worth and out-of-school PA. Results revealed significant differences in adolescents’ self-worth due to age and family wealth, but not due to gender and organized sport participation. Similarly, there were significant differences in out-of-school PA due to gender, age, organized sport participation and family wealth. Age and family wealth were significant predictors of global self-worth, while age and gender were significant predictors of the out-of-school PA. No significant differences emerged in global self-worth between adolescents who reported being more active and those who were less active. These findings are partially in line with previous studies in the area of sport and exercise.