PURPOSE: To examine the effects of walking and yoga on multidimensional self-esteem and roles played by self-efficacy, body composition, and physical activity (PA) in changes in esteem. DESIGN: Four-month randomized controlled exercise trial with three arms: walking, yoga, and control. SUBJECTS: Previously low-active middle-aged women (n = 164; mean age 49.9; SD 3.6). INTERVENTION: Structured and supervised walking program meeting three times per week for I hour and supervised yoga program meeting twice per week for 90 minutes. MEASURES: Body composition, fitness assessment, and battery of psychologic measures. ANALYSIS: Panel analysis within a structural equation modeling framework using Mplus 3.0. RESULTS: The walking and yoga interventions failed to enhance global or physical self-esteem but improved subdomain esteem relative to physical condition and strength (for walking) and body attractiveness (for both walking and yoga). Over time the effects of PA, self-efficacy, and body fat on changes in physical self-esteem and global esteem were mediated by changes in physical condition and body attractiveness subdomain esteem. Women reporting greater levels of self-efficacy and PA with lower body fat also reported greater enhancements in subdomain esteem. CONCLUSION: These results provide support for the hierarchic and multidimensional nature of self-esteem and indicate that middle-aged women may enhance certain aspects of physical self-esteem by participating in PA.

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