Shaping the Self: Lifespan Development of Self-Esteem and the Power of Sports
Abstract
How do people come to see themselves as competent, valuable, or physically capable—and how does sport shape these self-perceptions over time? This talk explores the development of self-esteem and self-concept across the lifespan, with a focus on the unique contribution of physical activity. I begin by distinguishing global self-esteem from domain-specific self-concepts, highlighting their developmental trajectories from childhood to old age. Drawing on longitudinal and meta-analytic findings, I discuss how domain-specific self-concepts, such as physical self-concept, not only reflect but also shape global self-esteem in dynamic, reciprocal ways. In the second part, I turn to the role of sport: How can sport promote positive self-beliefs? Under what conditions is it most effective? A synthesis of meta-analytic evidence reveals when and for whom sport participation fosters self-esteem, and where future research and interventions should focus. The talk aims to bridge developmental and sport psychology by offering a multidimensional view on the self—and its malleability through movement.
Recommended literature
Dapp, L. C., Krauss, S., & Orth, U. (2023). Testing the bottom-up and top-down models of self-esteem: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 124(5), 1111–1131. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000444
Liu, M., Wu, L., & Ming, Q. (2015). How does physical activity intervention improve self-esteem and self-concept in children and adolescents? Evidence from a meta-analysis. PloS One, 10(8), e0134804. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134804
Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2014). The development of self-esteem. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(5), 381-387. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414547414