Work

Participation in aesthetic sports and girls' weight concerns at ages 5 and 7 years

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The relationship between participation in aesthetic, or appearance-oriented, sports and weight concerns was assessed among young girls. METHOD: Participants were part of a larger longitudinal study and included 197 and 192 girls and their mothers when girls were 5 and 7 years, respectively. At each age, girls' weight concerns and sport participation were assessed and girls were classified as participating in aesthetic sports (dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, baton twirling, swimming, aerobics, figure skating), non-aesthetic sports (volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, hockey, tennis, martial arts, track) or no sports. RESULTS: Girls in the aesthetic sport group reported higher weight concerns than girls in the nonaesthetic and no sport groups at ages 5 and 7 years. In addition, girls participating in aesthetic sports at ages 5 and 7 years reported the highest weight concerns at age 7. DISCUSSION: Participation in aesthetic, or appearance-oriented, sports may foster a heightened focus on weight and body shape among girls.

Source: International Journal of Eating Disorders

DOI: 10.1002/eat.10043

Authors: Kirsten Krahnstoever Davison, Mandy B. Earnest, Leann L. Birch

Institutions: Pennsylvania State University, Miami University

Language: English

Topic: Eating Disorders and Behaviors

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development