Self-concept profiles: differences in body satisfaction, body mass index and physical activity in school children

The aims of the present study has been to identify different groups of students, with homo- geneous profiles, for the different dimensions that make up the physical self-concept, and to establish differences in relation to body dissatisfaction, body mass index, and physical activity. A total of 303 adolescents, male (150) and female (152), aged between 10-13 years (M = 11.74) belonging to different primary education centers participated in the study. The PSPP questionnaire was used for the evaluation of physical self-concept, Stunkard figures for body satisfaction, BMI, and the PAQ-A questionnaire for the evaluation of physical activ- ity. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, cluster analysis, and ANOVA of a factor were made to establish differences between the variables. The results showed the establishment of 4 different profiles in relation to the different dimensions of the physical self-concept. Likewise, significant differences were shown between BMI, physical activity, and body sat- isfaction between profiles derived from self-concept. As a conclusion, 4 different profiles are established regarding the dimensions of physical self-concept among which there are differences around BMI, levels of FA, and body satisfaction.