RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PHYSICAL FITNESS AND THE LEVELS OF ASSERTIVENESS AND SELF-ESTEEM IN ELITE 12 TO 14 YEARS OLD BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

This study intended to identify physical fitness, assertiveness and self-esteem levels in elite male and female club basketball players between 12 to 14 years of age in the Izmir area, and to scrutinize the relationships between these parameters. A total of 47 volunteer adolescent basketball players (20 females and 27 males) participated in the study. Handgrip strength, standing long-jump, sit-up, and sit-and-reach test scores, and 30 m sprint and one mile run-walk times were evaluated. The Rathus Assertiveness Inventory, of which reliability study in Turkey was performed by Voltan, and the Coopersmith Self-Respect Inventory adapted to Turkish by Özoğul were used as tools. Statistical analysis of data was performed with the SPSS v15.0 program and the Pearson correlation test was used. As a result, females were detected to be more flexible than males, and males had better scores in the remaining parameters. Significant relationships (p<0.05) were found between 30 m sprint and 1600 m run times and self-esteem, and between self-esteem and assertiveness.