Examining the self-esteem and universal moral values of children who participate in sports and those who do not

The aim of this study is to compare the self-esteem and universal moral values of children aged 11, 12, and 13 who participate in sports with those who do not. The research utilized the Self-Esteem Scale developed by Rosenberg and adapted into Turkish by Çuhadaroğlu, as well as the Universal Moral Values Scale developed by Umar and Kanger. The Universal Moral Values Scale includes three sub-factors: cognitive, emotional, and behavioral. The study population includes a total of 53,306 children aged 11-13 from public and private middle schools in Denizli and Uşak provinces during the 2023-2024 academic year. The sample consists of 820 volunteer children from Uşak and Denizli provinces, selected using convenience sampling. Out of 852 participants, 32 were excluded from the study due to systematic errors in their responses. The findings indicate that there is no significant difference in self-esteem and universal moral values between children who participate in sports and those who do not. Similarly, there are no significant differences in self-esteem and universal moral values among children engaged in team sports, individual sports, and those who do not participate in sports. There is also no significant difference based on the type of sport practiced. Gender-based analysis revealed a significant difference in self-esteem in favor of boys. However, significant differences were found in universal moral values and its sub-dimensions—cognitive, emotional, and behavioral—in favor of girls. Self-esteem and universal moral values are positively, though weakly, related. It is suggested that family education, a morally sound environment, and the integration of philosophy and ethics into teaching may contribute to the development of self-esteem and universal moral values.