Publication Year
2024
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Applied Sport and Performance Psychology
Program Director
Alison Pope-Rhodius, PhD, CMPC®, AASPF,
Literature Review Advisor
Drew Morgan, M.A., MBA CMPC
Abstract
In athletics and the performing arts, athletes and performers are expected to maintain a healthy, strong, and athletic physique. Specific professions foster a thin body image amongst athletes, which are expected to be maintained. Pressure to maintain low weight or an athletic body has been considered a risk factor for developing body image dissatisfaction (Nascimento, Luna, Fontenelle, 2012). Previous research has shown that from a health perspective body satisfaction is one of the crucial factors in the prevention of unhealthy, weight related behaviors, especially in female athletes (Kantanista et al., 2018). The research addresses body image concerns in elite performance populations from the age range of 16 to 25 years of age. The review of literature on body image and ballet has shown ballet to negatively influence the body image of dancers and the dancers perception of self.