Exploring Self-Esteem and the Social Environment in Exercise

This essay investigates the significant impact of the social environment on an individual's psychology within the context of exercise and physical activity, focusing specifically on self-esteem. The essay begins by defining self-esteem and its relationship to psychological well-being, then explores how consistent exercise programs can influence mental and psychological functioning. It examines the hierarchical nature of self-esteem models and the role of the theory of terror management in shaping self-worth. The essay then delves into correlational studies that demonstrate a strong link between self-esteem and exercise participation, as well as how exercise activities, such as aerobics, can boost self-confidence. It also discusses the impact of self-esteem on exercise performance and highlights the benefits of exercise on self-esteem for various age groups, including adolescents, children, and adults. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of curiosity, goal setting, and passion in maintaining exercise programs and improving self-esteem, thereby promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. The essay draws upon a range of scholarly references to support its arguments.

Running Head: SELF-ESTEEM AND EXERCISE 1
SELF-ESTEEM AND EXERCISE
Student’s Name
Student’s Affiliation

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Self-Esteem and Exercise
Dale et al (2019) define Self-esteem as the level and strength of a person's belief that
she/he productively performs a given task or activity. Likewise, it can be described as a process
of self-evaluation which is either positive or negative (Archer, 2014). In life, it is either an
individual has low self-esteem or high self-esteem; there are no chances of possessing both at
once. Low self-worth has been associated with most psychosomatic dysfunction; yet, low self-
confidence essentially is not the root cause of this dysfunction. It is alleged that persons with
high self-confidence who might be susceptible to psychological conditions are more prepared to
cope with such disorders (Archer, 2014). As a result, the negative effect of the ailment is
reduced. For this reason, it is evident that self-esteem can be improved, then the psychological
effects of the disorders can also be reduced. The process can be proved by describing a related
process that arises due to physical ailments like diabetes. The affected individual can be
predisposed hereditarily to developing the disorder, although, if they take part in suitable health
care-taking events, the illness may be prevented from developing or its consequences can be
reduced (Bruno et al., 2016). Self-efficacy and self-esteem enhancement are important factors
that contribute to both the inhibition of physical and psychological disorders as well as health
maintenance. Dale posits that exercise is capable of preventing and reducing the effects of
ailments through the self-esteem improvement process. Literature reviewers (Bruno et al., 2016)
clearly demonstrate that exercise contributes to development in self-worth. The aim of this essay
is to investigate and examine the potential influences that the social environment has on the
psychology of an individual within physical activity settings.
First, various correlational studies by (Vartanian & Novak, 2011) depict that adults and
children with high self-confidence tend to frequently participate in physical activities. Second, a

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significant number of experimental researches display that consistent implementation of long-
term exercise programs influences mental and psychological functioning of a human being. Due
to all these, exercise has a lot of advantages to the people who take it serious and follow the
instructions. Regardless of the gender or age group, exercise activities improve mental strength
and stability of a person.
The self-esteem structure theory/ model is hierarchical in nature and analyzes the
personalized view or evaluation of personal behaviors in certain scenarios via uninterrupted
classes until the final outcomes is realized. Legrand offers an exercise and self-esteem model
which encompasses individual self-notions developing from a particular case to a general one
(Legrand, 2014). The specific self-views commence with self-esteem dogmas concerning an
individual’s sense of reason and ability to think well after undergoing a certain physical activity.
Transitional self-opinions entail physical aptitude which entails an individual's sense of overall
fitness and the degree of one's satisfaction with their body (physical acceptance). These
numerous specific self-notions are then combined with the world views on self-esteem. Chonody
and Teater, (2016) claims that if an individual participates in exercise activities, her/ his mental
power will improve and remain at the right level.
Theory of Terror management
Internalizing of cultural moralities is a major epic for this theory, which perceives self-
esteem as ethnic-imbedded, together with certain valued contingencies by the society to personal
recognizable world opinions, where people with greater self-worth inspire positive touch,
personal progress, psychosomatic pleasures, as well as, enduring as a defender (Pyszczynski &
Kesebir, 2011). Also, the disquietness in comprehending a person’s eventual loss of confidence,
and decreases self-vindicating anxiety related behaviors. While those with low self-esteem show

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contradictory results. These theories concur with the very fact that exercise is vital for the
development of self-esteem. In that, an individual with high self-confidence is expected to
manage terror easily while those with low self-worth are likely to fumble because they are not
active and they rarely engage in conflicts apart from interpersonal conflicts (Toma, 2013). Thus,
exercise should be significant for those with low self-esteem as this is the only way to boost their
self-esteem effectively and promptly.
Since psychology contributes to adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle it is
essential to exercise. Some of the exercises one can undertake are aerobics, walks, pull-ups,
squats, planks, and lunges are very helpful for someone who wishes to improve his or her self-
esteem (Pila et al., 2015). These exercises possess significant impacts on human life as already
highlighted. Some other exercises help to keep diseases away thus making the immune system
stronger.
Impact of self-esteem on exercise performance
Correlational studies have shown that there exists a big relationship between self-
confidence and the likelihood of people to participate in exercise/ establish an exercise program.
The manifestation of self-esteem and self-confidence beliefs has shown the factors that help to
determine whether or not a person will decide to participate in an exercise activity. According to
(Pila et al., 2015), exercise adherers exhibit high levels of self-esteem and self-confidence; and
this is clearly shown through their abilities to follow the instructions given during the exercise
program by the instructors. On the other hand, adolescents with low self-esteem tend to over-eat
and oversleep, acts which make their physical health complex (Pila et al., 2015). With increased
exercises, most people have been able to lead a healthier life compared to those who do not
undergo body exercises.

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For adults, a physical self-opinion profile always used shows that positive physical self-
esteem showed an association amidst global self-worth as well as the sub-domain levels of
confidence in sports, physical training, strength and striking body appearance. For instance, high
body esteem in males is always associated with increased workouts, while, Chinese students
possess low self-efficacy and participate less in exercises as compared to the American
counterparts who are found of exercise (Pila et al., 2015). Thus, having high self-esteem helps in
encouraging someone to work out more often than any other. Those individuals with low self-
esteem find it difficult to achieve their goals which they set towards exercise.
Individuals who view exercise as a non-essential aspect will claim that there exist no
relation between exercise and self-esteem. Self-esteem research on elderly adults supported the
theory that persons with high self-confidence are more likely to participate in the exercise than
those who have low self-esteem. Similarly, high self-esteem forecasts the chances of the elder-
adults sustaining a workout program (Neff, 2011). For example, claim that the aged who possess
high self-esteem are fairly reliable in positive results expectations across drives specific health-
associated behaviors like diet, smoking, and exercise, hence they are more likely to trail through
for them to achieve their expected results. Just as the cognitive developments of children are
classified by age, the improvement of self-worth as well seems to be age-reliant and is influenced
mostly by personal experiences and social associations. Self-confidence affects certain factors
which include physical self-confidence, anxiety and supposed control in both female and male
athletes regardless of age and across various sports (Neff, 2011). Hence an individual's
involvement in sports is mostly associated with these dynamics.
Exercise Activities Influence on Self-Esteem

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As discussed above it is evident that when adolescents, children, and adults embark on an
exercise program self-confidence will be boosted in the process. It will be vital to determine if an
environment like exercise has any effect on the development of self-confidence amongst
children. The adolescent and pre-adolescent females show that pre-adolescent low self-worth, as
well as low physical self-concept individuals, gained the utmost benefits from the intervention of
physical exercise than others (Mikkelsen et al., 2017). As a result, it can be assumed that
involvement in physical exercise would positively influence the physical self- theories as well as
global self-confidence thus the psychological well-being of a person would be affected positively
because of the improved self-esteem.
Physical exercises such as aerobics are valued diversely by children, youths and adults
for they help in enhancing a healthy living. People are interested in living a healthy life and
maintaining body fitness. With a healthy body, people have a positive self-esteem (Vartanian &
Novak, 2011). Also, the aerobic exercise program help in reducing depressive signs and
improves self-concept understanding by people. Particularly, youths like to participate in body
exercise activities and always mobilize their peers to engage in such activities. Adults have the
believe that participation in physical exercises boos their cognitive level, mental functioning, and
ability to have a positive mind. In addition, both youths and adults consider physical exercise
lessons as an opportunity to meet diverse people where they interact and give each other hope
over life (Juhl & Routledge, 2016). Also others take exercises as a place to make friends.
Exercise has been proven as a means of improving a person's mental status. Therefore, it is
lawful to conclude that exercise helps in boosting self-esteem and also in enhancing self-
confidence to people over their body health.

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Psychology compels us to keep a healthy life. Thus the four components of self-esteem
such as self-confidence or security, feeling of belonging, feeling of competence and identity
must be embraced by the low-esteem persons before they begin exercising (Mageau, Carpentier,
& Vallerand, 2011). Also, self-esteem helps the individuals to keep what they have started
without giving up easily. This because without a mission or vision nothing is achievable.
Moreover, they have to move from the world beliefs and have personal believes this can only
happen if they embrace exercise as exercise enables them to interact, think critically and always
be positive as a result of self-esteem will improve gradually (Sharma & Agarwala, 2015). With
positive goals which you want to attain before the end of exercise, helps one to keep
remembering them thus helping him or her not to give up easily.
Similarly, (Dale et al., 2018) states that the aspects required for developing individualized
exercises or taking part in the exercise are self-esteem, goal setting, curiosity, and passion.
Without some of these one will not be able to complete his or set goals for the future. The
greatest motivator to being self-esteem and passion, it is indeed true that exercise helps in
boosting self-esteem for the shortest time possible (Richard, Halliwell, & Tenenbaum, 2017).
Therefore those who possess low self-confidence will have to boost their self-worth a little bit
and passion towards exercise so that they can maintain the exercise program provided for them
to have positive results at the end. Low self-esteem discourages so many people from making the
best from them (Fox & Lindwall, 2014). Positive psychological thoughts cannot be achieved
without exercise since every body part requires some alert and a little trigger for efficient
functioning. Without exercise one’s psychological thoughts and self-esteem will be deemed low
for as long as the person survives on this earth. For the person to survive for the physical

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exercise he or she is supposed to work towards incensement of self-esteem (Juhl & Routledge,
2016).
In summary, curiosity and goal setting is a motivator towards exercise. Thus, people
engage in exercise because they are either curious about other people's achievements or actions
which they take so as to achieve their goals. This then compels them to join exercise to be
achieved at the end of the time which they have set to complete.in this case, youth generally take
part in exercise because they want to shape their body shapes so they can look lovely and
admirable to people. Some exercise to avoid a domiciling lifestyle which would decrease their
self-esteem, some exercise so that they are they live a healthy and active life. They then forget
that exercise is the major booster of self-esteem which inspires them to maintain the exercise
program till the end. So, exercise and self-esteem are like brothers they are inseparable. Because
if you diminish one the other will also decrease.

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