The Association of Exercise and Self-Esteem among First-Year Students Registered at a Rural University In South Africa

Introduction: Students who move from secondary school to tertiary institutions may experience stressors that lead to low self-esteem. This may, however, be alleviated by exercise. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of exercise with self-esteem among first-year students enrolled at a University in South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study sample consisted of 320 randomly selected first-year students, 160 students who exercised regularly and 160 students who did not exercise. Data was collected using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). The data were analysed using both non-inferential and inferential statistics. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the different ages and ethnicities with exercise and self-esteem. Exercisers had a slightly larger (14%) likelihood than non-participants of having more positive self-esteem, as shown by the OR of 1.14 (CI 1.06, 1.22).Discussion: Men and women who exercised had higher self-esteem scores than those who did not exercise. Those who exercised had a higher likelihood of having a positive sense of self. Conclusion: First-year university students should include exercise in their activities as this is related to higher self-esteem.