Body Dissatisfaction in Collegiate Athletes: Differences Between Sex, Sport Type, and Division Level

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Hayley Perelman Illinois Institute of Technology

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Joanna Buscemi DePaul University
University of Illinois at Chicago

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Elizabeth Dougherty Illinois Institute of Technology

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Alissa Haedt-Matt Illinois Institute of Technology

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2018-0018
In Print:
Volume 12: Issue 4
Page Range:
718–731
Restricted access

Body dissatisfaction is associated with marked distress and often precipitates disordered eating symptomology. Literature on body dissatisfaction in athletes appears to be mixed, perhaps because athletes vary along several key characteristics related to how they experience their bodies. This study sought to investigate group differences in body dissatisfaction between sex (men vs. women), sport type (lean-promoting vs. non-lean-promoting), and division level (Division I vs. Division III). Collegiate athletes (N = 191) completed a self-report measure of body dissatisfaction, demographics, and sport characteristics. A factorial ANOVA revealed that women reported greater body dissatisfaction compared to men regardless of division level and sport type. There was an interaction between sex and sport type such that men in lean-promoting sports reported greater body dissatisfaction than men in non-lean-promoting sports. Findings suggest that some athletes participating in lean-promoting sports may be at risk of developing significant body dissatisfaction. Research on body dissatisfaction in collegiate athletes can be used to develop clinical interventions that aim to reduce body dissatisfaction and the potential of developing disordered eating and related psychopathology.

Perelman, Dougherty, and Haedt-Matt are with the Dept. of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL. Buscemi is with the Dept. of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago, IL; and also with the Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.

Address author correspondence to Hayley Perelman at hperelma@hawk.iit.edu.
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