indicated that involvement in sport “protected” athletes from body image concerns, but this protection was less in women and in higher-level athletes. In a review of studies on body image in athletes and nonathletes, Varnes et al. Īmong sport-specific pressures, the type of sport is a predictor of body dissatisfaction. Women may internalize sociocultural beauty ideals. This sociocultural model is consistent with objectification theory, in which the human body is perceived as biologically and socioculturally developed. In the theoretical model proposed by Petrie and Greenleaf, body dissatisfaction is considered as a result of the internalization of societal and sport-specific pressures and can be a moderator of eating disorders among athletes. Thus, body image can be measured in the context of either sport or daily life. Elite athletes reported as having both an athletic and a social body image. The perception of a person’s body may change in relation to the context in which he or she functions. Body dissatisfaction involves negative thoughts and feelings about one’s body and a perceived discrepancy between current and “ideal” body size. Introductionįemale athletes experience both sociocultural and sport-specific pressure to change their weight, body, and appearance and they are at risk of developing dissatisfaction with their body. Such programs should be implemented especially in young female athletes participating in high-level sporting activities at an early stage. The findings provide vital new knowledge which can be used by researchers and practitioners in designing educational programs on weight-related behaviors in female athletes. Type of sport explained 7.1% (, ), age explained 4.5% ( ), BMI explained 3.6% ( ), and level of competition explained 0.9% (, ) of variance in body image.
The model predicting the body image of female athletes was significant (, ) the adjusted. One-way ANOVA showed differences in the body image of athletes engaged in different types of sport (, , and ). Body image, BMI, age, the level of competition attained, and the training background of participants were recorded. 242 female individuals, aged 13–30 years (, SD = 4.5), representing aesthetic sports ( ) and nonaesthetic sports ( ), were recruited from different sports clubs in Poland. The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in body image across different types of sports in highly trained female athletes. 1 Department of Didactics of Physical Activity, Poznan University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871 Poznań, PolandĢ Youth Council of the Polish Olympic Academy, Wybrzeże Gdyńskie 4, 01-531 Warszawa, Polandģ Physical Activity, Sport, and Recreation Focus Area, North-West University, Private Bag X600, Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaĤ Faculty of Physical Culture and Health Promotion, Szczecin University, Piastów 40B, 71-65 Szczecin, Polandĥ Department of Organization and History of Sport, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warszawa, PolandĦ Department of Cultural Foundations of Tourism and Recreation, Poznan University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871 Poznań, Polandħ Academic Sports Association, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Plac Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej 5, 20-031 Lublin, PolandĨ Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warszawa, Polandĩ Department of Physical Activity Study and Health Promotion, Poznan University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871 Poznań, Poland Show moreīackground.