The physical self description questionnaire : furthering research linking physical self-concept, physical activity and physical education

Physical self-concept (PSC) is an important mediator of outcomes in physical education classes (e.g., skill development, health-related physical activity). Replicating academic self-concept results showing that academic self-concept influences subsequent achievement, recent research shows that PSC contributes to improving levels of physical activity and skill development associated with physical education classes beyond what can be explained by prior measures of skill and activity. PSC is a discreet domain within Marsh and Shavelson's (1985) multidimensional, hierarchical model of self-concept and should be measured with a domain specific instrument rather than inappropriate omnibus type measures. The Physical Self Description Questionnaire (PSDQ; Marsh, 1996) measures nine specific and two global components of PSC. Applying state-of-the-art methodology in the development of short forms of an established instrument, we demonstrate a new short form of the PSDQ (PSDQ-S) which retains good reliability and test-retest stability, well defined, replicable factor structure, convergent and discriminant validity. This new instrument, tested with Australian high school students and the general community, utilizing a construct validation approach, proved to be an excellent measure for use in physical education programs.