Self-esteem and physical activity post COVID-19 in the Mexican population: does the gym make a difference?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54167/rmccf.v6i12.2107Keywords:
Functional training, Fitness, Sport, Mental healthAbstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic generated negative effects on mental health and psychological well-being, highlighting the importance of self-esteem as a protective factor against stress and anxiety. In this context, physical activity in gyms and functional training has been proposed as an effective alternative to improve self-perception and overall health. Objective: To analyze and compare self-esteem levels among gym practitioners (weight training and CrossFit) and non-practitioners of physical-sport activities, also considering sociodemographic variables and sports habits in an adult sample from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional, and comparative study was conducted with a sample of 137 adults (65.7% women, 34.3% men), recruited through snowball sampling. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a sports habits questionnaire were applied. Data were analyzed using non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and MANOVA). Results: No significant differences in self-esteem were found regarding gender, educational level, occupation, type of practice (gym or CrossFit), or level of practice (recreational or competitive). However, individuals who practiced physical activity ≥5 days per week reported significantly higher self-esteem levels compared to inactive participants. Conclusions: Frequent gym practice contributes to higher self-esteem levels, evidencing its relevance for promoting psychological well-being.
Downloads
References
Asociación Médica Mundial. (2004). Declaración de Helsinki. Obtenido de https://www.conbioetica-mexico.salud.gob.mx/descargas/pdf/helsinki.pdf
Arias Giraldo, A. F., Vargas Romero, A. V., & González Palacio, E. V. (2024). Composición corporal y autoestima corporal en usuarios de gimnasios en una población colombiana. Retos, 60, 12-20. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v60.99275
Bąk-Sosnowska, M., Gruszczyńska, M., Skrypnik, D., Grzegorczyn, S., Karolkiewicz, J., Ratajczak, M., . . . Bogdański, P. (2021). Type of Physical Training and Selected Aspects of Psychological Functioning of Women with Obesity: A Randomised Trial. Nutrients, 13(8), 2555. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082555
Corazza, O., Simonato, P., Demetrovics, Z., Mooney, R., van de Ven, K., Roman-Urrestarazu, A., . . . Martinotti, G. (2019). The emergence of Exercise Addiction, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and other image-related psychopathological correlates in fitness settings: A cross sectional study. PLOS ONE, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213060
Coyne, P., & Woodruff, S. J. (2020). Examining the influence of CrossFit participation on body image, self-esteem and eating behaviours among women . Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 20(3), 1314-1325. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2020.03183
Dominski, F. H., Serafim, T. T., Siqueira, T. C., & Andrade, A. (2021). Psychological variables of CrossFit participants: a systematic review. Sport Sci Health., 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00685-9
Grajek, M., Gdańska, A., Krupa-Kotara, K., Głogowska-Ligus, J., & Kobza, J. (2022). Global Self-Esteem, Physical Activity, and Body Composition Changes Following a 12-Week Dietary and Physical Activity Intervention in Older Women. Int J Environ Res Public Health., 19(20), 13220. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013220
Heckathorn, D. (1997). Respondent-driven sampling: A new approach to the study of hidden populations. Social Problems, 44(3), 174-199. http://doi.org/10.2307/309694
Köteles, F., Kollsete, M., & Kollsete, H. (2016). PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCOMITANTS OF CROSSFIT TRAINING: DOES MORE EXERCISE REALLY MAKE YOUR EVERYDAY PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING BETTER? Kinesiology, 48, 39-48. Obtenido de https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/237092
Makizako, H., Kiyama, R., Nishimoto, D., Nishio, I., Masumitsu, T., Ikeda, Y., . . . Nagano, S. (2021). Association between Regular Exercise and Self-Rated Health and Sleep Quality among Adults in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(19), 10515. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910515
Matud, M. P., del Pino, J. M., Bethencourt, J. M., & Lorenzo, D. E. (2023). Stressful Events, Psychological Distress and Well-Being during the Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: A Gender Analysis. Applied Research Quality Life, 18, 1291–1313. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-022-10140-1
McLaughlin, P., Holland, M., Dodgson, S., & Khair, K. (2021). Project GYM: A randomized feasibility study investigating effect on motivation of personal trainer-led exercise in young men with hemophilia. Res Pract Thromb Haemost., 5(8). http://doi.org/10.1002/rth2.12613
Mijalković, S., Stojanović, S., Ilić, T., İlbak, İ., Kasicki, K., Niewczas-Czarny, P., . . . Rydzik, L. (2025). The effects of physical activity on self-esteem in older adults: a systematic review. Front Public Health, 13, 1595087. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1595087
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton University Press.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Adrián Ricardo Pelayo Zavalza, María Isabel Álvarez González, Lino Francisco Jacobo G´´omez Chávez, Quiané González Díaz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
-
Abstract409
-
PDF 119
-
HTML 23
