ABSTRACT
A presente investigação analisou as relações entre a prática desportiva de estudantes universitários e o modo como estes se percepcionavam a si próprios e às suas vidas. Participaram nesta investigação 2284 estudantes de ambos os sexos, com idades entre os 18 e os 30 anos (M = 21,87 ±2,37), que preencheram um questionário sobre a sua prática desportiva, bem como versões portuguesas do Physical Self-Perception Profile (Fox & Corbin, 1989), da Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999), da Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) e da Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). Em geral, a análise dos resultados revelou que os indivíduos que possuíam mais confiança física e que avaliavam a sua vida mais positivamente praticavam desporto mais regularmente; porém, verificou-se igualmente que quem se percebia menos forte fisicamente e tinha uma auto-estima mais baixa também praticava desporto mais regularmente do que os pares.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between university students' sport practice and the way they perceived themselves and their lives. Participated in this investigation 2284 male and female students, with ages between 18 and 30 years (M = 21.87 ±2.37), who filled out a questionnaire to assess their levels of sport practice, as well the Portuguese versions of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (Fox & Corbin, 1989), the Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). Overall, the analysis of the results showed that students who were more physically confident and evaluated their lives more positively did sport more regularly; however, results also showed that students who reported lower levels of physical strength and self-esteem practiced sport more regularly than their peers.