The effects of a 6-week strength and endurance circuit training intervention on body image in Slovak primary school girls

Abstract

This study examined the effect of 6-week strength and endurance circuit training (twice a week) on body image in 53 primary school girls aged 14-15 years divided in three groups (2 experimental and 1 control). Methods: A pre-test, post-test design was used in the 3 groups experiment. Body Mass Index (objective indicator of body image) and Contour drawing rating scale (subjective indicator) were administered as pre and post-test to each group before the intervention and after 6 weeks of intervention. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used (SPSS version 23.0) to compare pre and post test data and to found out the differences before and after intervention in each groups. Strength and endurance circuit training was associated with significant decrease of body dissatisfaction in both experimental groups (1: Z=2.33; p˂ .05 and 2: Z = 2.88; p˂ .01) and no changes were found in control group (Z= .00; p= 1.00). A Kruscal-Wallis test revealed that there was a significant difference in BMI among three groups (H(2)= 6,01; p= .049; η2 = 0,3).