Cindy DeMallieSES 33311/22/16

BODY IMAGE IN FEMALE ATHLETES

Body Image: how we see our own body, and how we think, feel, and act toward it.

Body Esteem: emotional consequence of body image.

Body Reality: our actual physical characteristics

Body Ideal: how we think our body should look

Body Image disturbance: negative thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of your body

Lox, C.L. , Mart in Ginis , K .A. , & Petruzzel lo, S. J . (2010). The Psychology of Exercise: Integrat ing Theory and Practice (3rd Ed.)

DEFINING BODY IMAGE

Physical characteristics Body fat Muscularity, Height

Social Body ideal Social media Athletes coaches

Behaviors Physical activity Dieting

Psychological Perfectionism Self esteem

INFLUENCING FACTORS

Kong, P., and Harris, L. (2015) Compared leanness focused and non-leanness sports as

well as elite, recreational, and non-competitive athletes

Figure Rating Scale- 9 female figures that range in size from very thin (1) to overweight (9)

Participants were to select the figure that most closely related to their current figure (Current) and ideal figure (ideal).

LEAN VS NON- LEAN SPORTS

Leanness focused athletes Prefer significantly leaner ideal figures than non-lean

athletes

Elite leanness focused athletes showed the most lean ideal figures

Greater general body dissatisfaction than non-lean athletes

In both lean and non-lean sports elite athletes reported pressure from the coach.

RESULTS

Burnett, T., and Gaines, S., (2014) examined differences in attitudes/beliefs, self-esteem,

body dissatisfaction and social pressures towards body image and disordered eating.

Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS: Thompson and Gary, 2001) -9 female figures that range in size from very slim (0) to very overweight (8) Subtract current body type from the ideal body type

Peer Pressure and Eating Scale (PPES: Liberman et al., 2001) Use a six point scale 1 (false) – 6 (true)

FEMALE DII COLLEGE ATHLETES

Athletes reported higher body image perceptions than non athletes Non athletes -1.59 and athletes -.79

Peer pressure significantly predicted females body image perceptions

Romantic Pressures showed no correlation with athletes

RESULTS

SooHoo, S., Reel, J., and Pearce, P., (2011) Identifying social, enviornmental, and body awareness

influences on All-Star cheerleaders and body image.

Interviewed 14 girls two separate times and analyzed/ compare and contrasted verbatim transcripts.

ADOLESCENT CHEERLEADERES

Environmental Each participant identified that there was a medial portrayal of female

cheerleaders which include physical and personal attributes

All participants had similar physical features but claimed cheerleaders could “look however they want”

Position determined body type Flyer vs base

Several participants stated that they were more aware of their body image in their uniform than at practice.

Social All participants stated that their parents influence the development of their

body image Several of the girls stated that comments from others/ strangers were the most

hurtful and influential when commenting about body size

RESULTS

Perceptual Body Image Measures Kong, P. and Burnett, T both used perceptual body measures

to measure body dissatisfaction Athletes show higher body satisfaction than non athletes Non lean athletes show higher body satisfaction than lean

athletes

Peer pressure and social influences DII college athletes and the adolescent cheerleaders

reported that peer pressure influenced body image

SO WHAT?

THE THIN IDEAL

A reduction in thin-ideal internalization should result in improved body satisfaction and improved mood, reduced use of unhealthy weight-control behaviors, and decreased binge eating and other eating disorder symptoms.

4 one hour sessionsLed by peersUses group talk, behavioral, written and verbal

exercisesResearched basedFormed in 2012 by Dr.’s Eric Stice and Carolyn Becker

http://www.bodyprojectsupport.org

THE BODY PROJECT

Further work is needed to develop and evaluate educational programs specific to athletes

Genetic influences and body type should be considered

More studies should be evaluated on influence of coaches and trainers

WHAT IS NEXT?