1. SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
Between-sport comparisons of athletic body image standards held by coaches
Joanne Perry, M.S., Emily Mohr, Nicholas Kavish, Michael Ross Ph.D. ABPP
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
An athlete’s body image satisfaction is a significant predictor of susceptibility to eating disordered behavior. The level of satisfaction may be related to athletic body ideals held by coaches. Methods: Seventy-six coaches of swimming (n = 28), cross-country (n = 24) and figure skating (n = 24) were recruited and assessed for demographic information. Coaches also provided information on athletic body ideals by choosing a figure that best represented a successful adult female athlete in their sport. Results: The vast majority of coaches (81.82%) preferred a figure classified as underweight (i.e., BMI of or lower). Cross country coaches and figure skating had significantly lighter ideals compared to swim coaches. Results demonstrated that a reduction in athlete body ideal led to an increase in the likelihood of coaching an athlete with DES. The most utilized communication strategies included psychoeducation and informal discussions. Finally, coaches in the sample appeared to successfully address athletes with DES using appropriate strategies (i.e., referrals to professionals with specialized training). Discussion: Findings suggest that coaches may have unrealistic athletic body ideals. Ideals might lead to an increased likelihood of coaching an athlete with DES; however, a causal relationship cannot be definitively stated. Communication strategies used can have positive impacts if done in a supportive manner.
Abstract
Body image is a construct characterized by an individual’s perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about his or her body. Body image satisfaction is an important predictor of eating disordered behavior. This construct may be more complex for athletes due to the incongruence between societal body standards and athletic body standards.
Female athletes are prone to experience body dissatisfaction in sports that promote leanness and in sports where one’s body is judged and included in their performance scores.
Coaches play a critical role in athletes’ susceptibility to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating symptoms (DES) due to factors such as time spent with coaches, a strong desire to please coaches, and viewing coaches as experts.
Coaches communicate body ideals using a variety of methods (i.e., encouraging nutrition, recognition of athletic body change, role modeling, individualized athlete-centered training, and engaging in body comparisons and criticisms).
The purpose of this study is to quantitatively examine the athletic body ideals and the general societal body ideals held by individual sport coaches, in addition to qualitatively examining their communication strategies of these ideals.
Introduction
Participants:
Seventy-six (31 male, 45 female) coaches of swimming (n = 28), cross country (n = 24) and figure skating (n = 24)
Participants coached athletes at a variety of levels: beginners (n = 6), intermediate-level athletes (n = 24), advanced athletes (n = 30), and elite athletes (n = 16)
Measures:
Photographic Figure Rating Scale (Swami, Salem, Furnham, & Tove ́e, 2008). Consists of 10 photographic figures of real women from a front view. The images represent two women from each of the established BMI categories. Participants were asked to (1) identify the image that best represents the ideal body for successful adult female athletes within their sport and (2) identify the image that best represents the ideal body for every-day adult women.
Communication Patterns Questionnaire. Developed for the current study assessing the frequency of communication, strategies used, whether or not the coach had worked with an athlete demonstrating DES, and if so, a description of ways in which they intervened.
Analyses:
To examine between-sport differences in athletic body ideal and societal body ideal, two between-group ANOVAs were conducted.
To examine variables that may predict the probability of coaching athletes with DES, a logistic regression was conducted including athlete level and athletic body ideal as predictors.
Qualitative analyses explored written responses related to communication strategies utilized.
Procedure:
Researchers sent s to the head and assistant coaches at Division I, II, and III universities as well as at figure skating and swim club teams. Each provided a link to a survey hosting website. All data was collected online.
Methods
Quantitative Results
Regarding athlete body ideal, 7 coaches (9.2%) preferred Figure 2 (BMI = 14.72), 44 coaches (57.9%) preferred Figure 3 (BMI = 16.65), 20 coaches (26.3%) preferred Figure 4 (BMI = 18.45), and 2 coaches (2.6%) preferred Figure 5 (BMI = 20.33).
Athletic body ideals differed significantly between sports, F(3,69) = 10.55, p < .001, such that swim coaches (M = 3.54) had significantly heavier athletic body ideals compared to figure skating coaches (M = 3.15; p < .05) and cross country coaches (M = 2.93; p < .001). See Graph below.
There were no significant sport differences among societal body ideal.
A logistic regression predicted the likelihood of coaching an athlete with DES using athlete level and athletic body ideal. Both predictors contributed significantly (i.e., athlete level, p ≤ .001, and athletic body ideal, p < .05). Model indicated that when athletic body ideal is decreased by one unit, coaches are 5.35 times more likely to have coached an athlete with DES.
Qualitative Results
Regarding discussions related to nutrition and/or eating habits, a majority of the sample endorsed using psychoeducation (53.9%) and informal discussions with their athletes (51.3%).
Coaches were less likely to list communication strategies focused on weight and/or body image and they primarily used informal discussions with athletes (32.9%), referrals to a nutritionist (15.8%), and offering support to athletes after noticing a weight change (13.2%).
The twenty-eight coaches who indicated coaching athletes with DES addressed this issue in a variety of ways: referrals to a psychologist (46.4%), referral to a nutritionist (32.1%), involving parents (32.1%), and utilizing a medical intervention (i.e., physician referral, hospitalization; 25%).
Results
Sport differences in the athletic body ideals held by coaches were confirmed, which is consistent with previous research.
The majority of our sample (81.82%) preferred a figure with an underweight classification or thinner. All three sports might have a culture that promotes unrealistic athletic body ideals.
A reduction in athletic body ideals was associated with an increase in the likelihood of having coached an athlete with DES; however, a causal relationship cannot be definitively stated.
Coaches are more likely to discuss nutrition and/or eating habits with their athletes, compared to weight and/or body image. This is a positive finding, given that coaches who are preoccupied with body weight and performance weight increase body image anxiety, dieting behavior, and fear of fatness.
Strategies of addressing DES in athletes all appeared to include individuals, most of whom have specialized training in the treatment of these issues. This is positive, as it is crucial for athletes demonstrating DES to receive proper medical, nutritional, and psychological treatment.
Limitations: (1) The PFRS did not specifically use pictures of athletes, which may limit the validity of the current study’s results; (2) We were unable to establish causal relationships. It might be beneficial for future studies to collect longitudinal data; and (3) The presence of athletes exhibiting DES was a dichotomous variable.
Discussion
Graph
Figures
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
BMI = 14.72
BMI = 16.65
BMI = 18.45
“Emaciated”
“Underweight” Represents ideal for 57.9% of the sample
“Underweight”
Represents ideal for 9.2% of the sample
Represents ideal for 26.3% of the sample