Body Image Differences in Female Body Image Differences in Female Collegiate AthletesCollegiate Athletes

Jackie Rodabaugh & Jamie RuddyJackie Rodabaugh & Jamie RuddyFaculty Sponsor: Miranda KayeFaculty Sponsor: Miranda Kaye

The “Ideal” BodyThe “Ideal” Body

What is the “ideal” body?

Body image encompasses nine variables:– Overall Appearance Evaluation– Fatness Evaluation– Attention to Grooming– Health/Fitness Evaluation– Health/Fitness Influence– Social Dependence– Height Dissatisfaction– Negative Affect– Investment in Ideals

Our HypothesisOur Hypothesis

Previous research has found individual sport athletes :– Feel more pressure to maintain a certain appearance– Have a more negative health status– Suffer from lower self-esteem– Experience negative body image perception

Female varsity athletes at Ithaca College that participate in individual sports experience lower body image satisfaction than those participating in team sports.

Participants & ProceduresParticipants & Procedures

Females participating on varsity athletic teams at Ithaca College (n = 358)Sample: n = 130Completed an electronic and anonymous survey

Sport Percentage

Basketball 2

Crew 25

Cross Country 5

Field Hockey 8

Golf 2

Gymnastics 4

Lacrosse 4

Soccer 15

Softball 8

Swimming & Diving 12

Tennis 2

Track & Field 13

Volleyball 2

MeasuresMeasures

39-item Body Self-Image Questionnaire (BSIQ) (Baumgartner et al., 1991)– I look good in clothes. (OAE)– Parts of my body are fat. (FE)– I spend time making my appearance more attractive. (AG)– My body is healthy. (HFE)– I compare my body to people I’m close to. (SD)– If I were a different height, I’d like my body better. (HD)– Body size matters to me. (II)

5-item Fear of Failure (FF) (Conroy et al., 2002)– When I am not succeeding, people are less interested in me.– When I am failing, I worry about what other people think about me.

ResultsResultsN Mean Std. Deviation Sig.

Overall Appearance Evaluation

Individual 80 3.45 .89.14

Team 50 3.40 .75

Fatness Evaluation

Individual 80 2.45 .91.33

Team 50 2.60 .99

Attention to Grooming

Individual 80 2.92 .98.32

Team 50 2.84 .87

Health/Fitness Evaluation

Individual 80 4.16 .73.85

Team 50 4.08 .71

Health/Fitness Influence

Individual 80 3.82 .88.19

Team 50 3.86 .73

Social Dependence

Individual 80 3.21 1.07.83

Team 50 3.14 1.04

Height Dissatisfaction

Individual 80 2.35 1.26.76

Team 50 2.37 1.25

Negative AffectIndividual 80 1.98 1.10

.06Team 50 1.82 .92

Investment in Ideals

Individual 80 3.76 .83.52

Team 50 3.76 .88

But…But…

Fear of failure was significantly correlated to each of the nine variables:– Overall Appearance Evaluation r = -.28**– Fatness Evaluation r = .37**– Attention to Grooming r = .24**– Health/Fitness Evaluation r = -.25**– Health/Fitness Influence r = .26**– Social Dependence r = .46**– Height Dissatisfaction r = .27**– Negative Affect r = .48**– Investment in Ideals r = .38**

**. Correlation is significant at the .01 level.

DiscussionDiscussion

Generally Ithaca College female varsity athletes experience similar body image satisfaction, contrasting with previous research. – the NCAA Division III atmosphere– the survey was voluntary

The more an athlete fears failure, the more she experiences negative body image satisfaction, regardless of type of sport.

ConclusionsConclusions

Ithaca College female varsity athletes tend to have greater body image satisfaction than samples in other studies.

Teaching athletes to focus on success instead of failure may improve body image satisfaction.– By developing interpersonal relationships between athletes

and teammates, coaches, and health care professionals, failure-focused lifestyle patterns may be more easily recognized.

– This recognition may lead to a shift of mind set and improved body image perception.

ReferencesReferencesBass, M., Hunt, S., & Turner, L. (2001). Counseling female athletes: application of the stages of change model to avoid disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. Psychological Reports.

Baumgartner, T., Benson, J., & Rowe, D. (1999). Development of the body self-image questionnaire. Murfreesboro: Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science.

Haase, A. (2009). Physique anxiety and disordered eating correlates in female athletes: differences in team and individual sports. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 218-231.

Conroy, D.E. & Metzler, J.N. (2002). Patterns of self-talk associated with different forms of competitive anxiety. The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory.