ABSTRACT
The impact of a six-week indoor wall climbing on the perceptions of self for children with special needs aged 6-12 years was explored. Participants (n = 46) were randomly assigned to the intervention (girls, n = 4; boys, n = 19) and control groups (girls, n = 5; boys, n = 18). Belayers' and children's perceptions of efficacy were measured using specifically designed questionnaires and perceptions of competence and global self-worth were measured using Harter's (1985) Self-Perception Profile for Children for participants with an adaptive age of 8 years or higher. Children's self-efficacy and belayers' ratings of children's efficacy improved significantly, t(21) = 3.9, p = .001, d= .84 and F(2, 44) = 30.03, p < .001, respectively. The children's judgments of their athletic and social competence and global self-worth, however, did not change over time or differ from the wait-listed control group (p > .05). These results suggest that it is likely that many experiences that enhance self-efficacy may be needed to improve self-perceptions.
