A comparison of the levels of physical activity, self-esteem, and depression among sheltered battered women, nonsheltered battered women, and nonbattered women.

Abstract

The present study compared the levels of physical activity, self-esteem, and depression among sheltered battered women, nonsheltered battered women, and nonbattered women. An examination of the relationship of physical activity levels to self-esteem levels and depression levels was also conducted. The voluntary participants were 150 women representing three categories of women: sheltered battered (N = 50), nonsheltered battered (N = 50), and nonbattered (N = 50). Each participant completed the following surveys: (1) demographic form, (2) Baecke Questionnaire of Habitual Physical Activity , (3) Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and (4) Center for Epidemiologic Studies---Depression Scale.

MANOVA showed significant overall differences among the three categories of women on the three dependent variables with F (9, 353) = 253.73, p less than .000, Wilks' Lambda = .007. Further, univariate F tests showed highly significant differences on each of the three dependent variables: physical activity, self-esteem, and depression with F (3, 147) = 416.687, p less than .000; F (3, 147) = 1213.026, p less than .000; and F (3, 147) = 248.011, p less than .000 respectively.

Tukey post hoc tests found highly significant differences in physical activity levels between sheltered battered women and nonsheltered battered women (p less than .000) and between sheltered battered women and nonbattered women. Tukey also identified significant differences in self-esteem levels between the sheltered battered women and the nonbattered women (p less than .002) and between nonsheltered battered women and the nonbattered women (p less than .003).

Tukey revealed a significant difference (p less than .023) in the depression levels between the sheltered battered women and nonsheltered battered women. Highly significant differences were identified between the sheltered battered women and the nonbattered women (p less than .000) and between the nonsheltered battered women and the nonbattered women (p less than .000).

On the sample as a whole, Pearson Product Moment correlations revealed a highly significant correlation (r = .283, p less than .000) between the levels of physical activity and self-esteem. Highly significant, negative correlations were found between the levels of physical activity and depression (r = -.349, p less than .000) and between the levels of self-esteem and depression (r = -.699, p less than .000).