Effects of Endurance Training on Body-Consciousness in Women

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Abstract
The Body Consciousness Questionnaire by Miller, Murphy, and Buss in 1981 was employed to assess the effects of intensive endurance training on changes in self-perception in 13 women volunteers aged 20 to 30 yr. The participants engaged in an intensive progressive running program for 6 to 8 wk. Additional moderate exercise (softball or volleyball) was engaged in for 3 ½ hr. per day. Before and after the training subjects completed the questionnaire on self-perceived attributes of internal body consciousness, public body consciousness, and body competence. Aerobic fitness, measured pre- and posttraining, significantly increased while body fat and weight significantly decreased. In consonance with these physiological changes, rated self-perception of internal body consciousness and body competence increased significantly while public body consciousness remained unchanged. Self-report of internal body consciousness tended to increase in proportion to changes in fitness ( r = 0.53). These results suggest that endurance and moderate exercise training contribute to increased self-perception specifically with regard to perceived internal and body competence.

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