The impact of a six-week indoor wall climbing on the perceptions of self for children with special needs aged 6 to 12 years was explored. Participants (n = 46) were randomly assigned to the intervention (girls, n = 4; boys, n = 19) and control groups (girls, n = 5; boys, n = 18). Belayers' and children's perceptions of efficacy were measured using specifically designed questionnaires and perceptions of competence and global self-worth were measured using Harter's (1985) Self-Perception Profile for Children for participants with an adaptive age of 8 years or higher. Children's self-efficacy and belayers' ratings of children's efficacy improved significantly, t[21] = 3.9, p = 0.001, d = 0.84 and F[2,44] = 30.03, p < 0.001, respectively. The children's judgments of their athletic and social competence and global self-worth, however, did not change over time or differ from the wait-listed control group (p > 0.05). These results suggest that it is likely that many experiences that enhance self-efficacy may be needed to improve self-perceptions.
Copyright Human Kinetics. Reprinted with permission from Human Kinetics (Champaign, IL).

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