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.
Search Results
You are looking at 1 - 2 of 2 items for
- Author: Joanna Buscemi x
- Refine by Access: All Content x
Body Dissatisfaction in Collegiate Athletes: Differences Between Sex, Sport Type, and Division Level
Hayley Perelman, Joanna Buscemi, Elizabeth Dougherty, and Alissa Haedt-Matt
The Short-Term Efficacy of a Brief Motivational Intervention Designed to Increase Physical Activity Among College Students
Matthew P. Martens, Joanna Buscemi, Ashley E. Smith, and James G. Murphy
Background:
Research has shown that many college students do not meet recommended national guidelines for physical activity. The objective of this pilot study was to examine the short-term efficacy of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) designed to increase physical activity.
Methods:
Participants were 70 college students who reported low physical activity (83% women, 60% African American). Participants were randomly assigned to either the BMI condition or to an education-only (EO) condition. They completed measures of physical activity at baseline and 1-month follow-up.
Results:
Those in the BMI condition reported more vigorous-intensity physical activity at a 1-month follow-up than those in the EO condition.
Conclusions:
The findings from this study provide preliminary support for the efficacy of a BMI designed to increase physical activity among college students. Future studies should continue to examine and refine the intervention in an effort to improve health-related behaviors among this group.
