www.womanthismonth.com 67 October 2013 Feelings of self-esteem contribute to a person’s confidence and competence. These feelings of worthiness and proficiency can influence a person’s life in regard to aspirations, motivation, achievement and relationships. Many studies have investigated the self-esteem of young girls and have concluded that as they move through school their self-esteem levels drop. One study found that 46 percent of high school boys, compared to only 29 percent of high schools girls, reported being ‘happy the way I am’. Girls with low self-esteem often grow to be women with low self-esteem. These are linked to increased rates of depression, substance abuse, suicide and eating disorders in both adolescents and adults. What can be done? One important difference to consider is the rate of sports participation among boys and girls. As girls move through school, they tend to drop out of sports at a rate six times higher than boys. Participating in sports is one way that girls can develop physical competence. Girls learn to appreciate their bodies for what they can do, instead of the perceived appearance by oneself or by others. In a sport environment, girls learn to control their bodies and to rely on acquired physical skills and knowledge. It helps girls to trust and rely on themselves and team mates while working toward common goals. They become aware of the feeling of achieving, make new friends out of their normal circle and see what might be possible whilst target setting. For some, being liked by other girls is sometimes more important than having others see them as smart or independent. A sport can develop leadership, citizenship and involvement when coached by a qualified and experienced professional. They are provided with adult role models, from whom they can draw guidance and support. Put it in practice It’s important to ensure that your daughters understand the health benefits of life-long exercise. A study published by the Women’s Sport Foundation on over 30,000 girls compared athletes to nonathletes. It stated that athletes were more likely than non-athletes to stay involved in sports as an adult and take on other extra-curricular activities. Deena Rahman, senior coach at Arsenal Soccer School, reiterated the benefits of girls participating in sports. She played
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