The effects of free weights and elastic tubing resistance training on physical self-perception in adolescents David R. Lubans a, * , Elroy J. Aguiar b , Robin Callister b a School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus, NSW 2308, Australia b School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus, NSW 2308, Australia article info Article history: Received 8 December 2009 Received in revised form 18 June 2010 Accepted 18 June 2010 Available online 25 June 2010 Keywords: Strength training Weight training Physical self-concept Body image Obesity abstract Objectives: While it has been suggested that resistance training may have a beneficial effect on psychological health in young people, evidence supporting this assertion is limited. The primary aim of this study was to explore the effect of free weights and elastic tubing resistance training on physical self- perception in adolescents. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Method: Participants (N ¼ 108, mean age ¼ 14.96  .68 years) were randomized to free weights (n ¼ 37) or elastic tubing (n ¼ 41) resistance training groups and a control group was recruited (n ¼ 30). Partici- pants in the resistance training groups completed workloads of 2 sets of 10e12 repetitions on 10 exercises for 8 weeks. Height and weight were measured and bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess body composition (body fat %). Muscular strength was assessed using 1 repetition maximum tests for bench press and leg press. Students completed the Children’s Physical Self-Perception Profile and two scales developed for the current study to assess resistance training self-efficacy and outcome expectancy. Results: Physical self-perception remained stable among boys over the study period. Girls in the free weights resistance training group significantly increased their perceived body attractiveness (p < .01, d ¼ .76) over the study period. The relationship between changes in body fat % and body attractiveness in girls was inverse and marginally significant (r ¼.28, p < .10). Conclusion: Resistance training programs may improve physical self-perception in adolescent girls. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes and more heterogeneous samples are required to confirm this finding. Ó 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Resistance training is exercise designed specifically to increase muscular strength and endurance through increased workload demand and may include the use of free weights, machine weights, elastic tubing/stretch bands, hydraulic machines or body weight (e.g. push-ups, chin-ups) (Stratton et al., 2004). Resistance training has long been considered an important activity for adults and the latest physical activity recommendations for youth, adults, and older adults now include guidelines for resistance training (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2008). Historically, resistance training was not recommended for children and adolescents, due to the perceived threat of injury (Faigenbaum, 2000). However, recent studies have shown that supervised resis- tance training programs do not appear to have any adverse effects in children and adolescents (Malina, 2006) and in fact may improve cardiovascular fitness, body composition, bone mineral density and blood lipid profiles (Benson, Torode, & Fiatarone Singh, 2008b; Faigenbaum, 2000; Malina, 2006). It has also been suggested that resistance training may have a beneficial effect on psychological health (i.e. self-concept, self- esteem, anxiety, depression) in young people (Faigenbaum, 2000), yet, evidence supporting this assertion is limited (Stratton et al., 2004). The majority of studies exploring the effects of exercise on psychological health have focused on global self-esteem and self-concept (Ekeland, Heian, & Hagen, 2005) and involved exercise to improve cardio-respiratory fitness. Self- concept is generally viewed as one’s awareness of personal characteristics, attributes and limitations and how they compare to others, while self-esteem is the evaluative component of self- concept and refers to the value that individuals place on their characteristics (Gallahue & Ozmun, 2006). Self-concept is considered to be a hierarchical construct consisting of physical, * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ61 2 49212049; fax: þ61 2 49217407. E-mail addresses: david.lubans@newcastle.edu.au (D.R. Lubans), elroy.aguiar@ newcastle.edu.au (E.J. Aguiar), robin.callister@newcastle.edu.au (R. Callister). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Psychology of Sport and Exercise journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/psychsport 1469-0292/$ e see front matter Ó 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2010.06.009 Psychology of Sport and Exercise 11 (2010) 497e504