Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if physical self-concept (PSS) assessed in sub scales of physical performance, physical appearance and weight control has any relationship with DCD among ten to twelve year old black children. A second aim was to determine if DCD among boys and girls has similar influences on their physical self-concept. Children aged ten to twelve years (N=212) consisting of 101 black boys and 111 girls were randomly selected from twelve schools in the North West province of South Africa (Thusa Bana Study) and testes with the Children’s Physical Self-concept Scale (CPSS) (Stein et al., 1998). Each subject was interviewed individually by asking them to choose from 27 statements those, which are most appropriate to them. The MABC (Henderson & Sugden, 1992) was used to determine moderate and severe cases of DCD. Results obtained using the Statistica for Windows package, indicated that physical self-concept were statistically lower among children classified as cases of DCD (>15th percentile) with regards to global self-concept. Totals obtained for manual dexterity were also lower among the severe and moderate cases of DCD, although only significant on a 10 per cent level between the severe and without DCD groups. With regards to gender, PSS regarding movement competence, physical appearance and global PSS were statistically lower (p<0.05) among girls classified as DCD, while no differences were found in the weight control area between the genders. Low PSS with regard to weight control were found among the underweight girls, and the overweight boys. Verf.-Referat