EFFECT OF STEP-AEROBIC DANCING PARTICIPATION ON PHYSICAL SELF-PERCEPTION IN FEMALES

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of attending an eight-week step-aerobic dancing program on physical self-perception. Participants were 57 female university students (25.5 ± 5.9 yrs of age) who were beginners in the step-aerobic dancing class conducted at the Hacettepe Sport Sciences and Technologies School. A total of 30 had previously participated in an exercise program before (26.0 ± 6.1 yrs of age), whereas 27 had never participated in an exercise program before (24.2 ± 5.4 yrs of age). The Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) was used for evaluating participants’ physical self-perception. Participants attended the one-hour step-aerobic dance classes, performing in a heart rate range 60 to 80% of their maximum, three days a week for the total of eight weeks. Following the eight weeks’ period, the questionnaire was again applied. Multi-variant (2 x 2) MANOVA revealed significant difference between the pre- and post-test physical self-perception scores {Hotelling’s T2=1.41, F (1, 55)=5.78, p<0.01}. Besides this, results showed significant differences between the coordination {F (1, 55) =5.91, p=0.018}, sport ability {F (1, 55) =5.37, p=0.024}, appearance {F (1, 55) =7.42, p=0.09}, and flexibility {F (1, 55) =4.93, p=0.031} dimensions of physical self-perception. Results revealed that previous participation in an exercise program did not have any affect on physical self-perception scores {Hotelling's T2 =0.04, F (1, 55)= 1.14, p>0.05}. As a conclusion, these results disclose that participating in an eight-week step-aerobic dancing class has changed women’s physical self-perceptions positively. However, this positive change was not affected by previous participation in an exercise program.