Self-perceived physical fitness as a moderating variable in the relationship between motor self-efficacy and physical self-concept in school-age physical education students

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders has elicited significant concern within society, particularly among adolescents who are disproportionately affected by this concerning trend. Consequently, institutions are seeking efficacious and cost-effective interventions to address this situation, while the scientific community has identified physical activity as a potential means to mitigate this epidemic. Motor self-efficacy and physical self-concept have been demonstrated to confer benefits to the mental health of young individuals, comparable to those of physical fitness. These aspects not only influence physical health but also the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals, contributing to a better overall quality of life. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the moderating role of self-perceived physical fitness in motor self-efficacy and physical self-concept, in high school physical education students. Methods: To this end, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was applied to identify the non-normality of the data and the Mann–Whitney U test to determine the differences by sex in the variables studied to subsequently perform a moderation analysis and a regression test for the physical self-concept prediction model. Results: The results showed that self-perceived physical fitness positively moderated the relationship motor self-efficacy and physical self-concept, enhancing the positive effect size of self-efficacy on physical self-concept. Conclusion: Thus, self-perceived physical fitness could be important in interventions aimed at improving physical and emotional well-being and health of adolescents.