Sports Participation among Academically Gifted Adolescents: Relationship to the Multidimensional Self-Concept

Abstract

This study compares academically gifted students who engage in sports to academically gifted students who do not engage in sports on measures of the multidimensional self-concept. Participants include 264 gifted adolescents who had completed the 6th through 10th grade during the previous academic year. Sports participation was measured by asking participants whether or not they participated in organized sports. Multiple facets of self-concept were measured using the Self Description Questionnaire II (Marsh, 1990). Results indicate gifted adolescents who engage in sports have higher physical abilities self-concepts than those who do not engage in sports. No grade level or gender interactions were found. Conclusions and implications are discussed.