Body Dissatisfaction

Breadth and intensity of sport participation as a prediction of body satisfaction among adolescents

One of the top three greatest concerns in Australian adolescents since 2006 is body image as over one third report this as one of their biggest worries, along side coping with stress and school or study problems (Misson Australia, 2013).A major cause of body dissatisfaction among females is the perceived pressure from society, that emphasises an ideal body shape that is unrealistically thin, which is repeatedly portrayed through the media where females may feel the need to conform(McCabe & Ricciardelli, 2003).Males feel pressure to follow the sociocultural ideal body form of a V-shaped muscular build with broad shoulders and a lean waste-line (Raudenbush & Zellner, 1997). Johnson & Schlndt (1985) indicate these societal pressures can be persuasive during adolescence because these years contain a unique developmental phase where the body is biologically changing and is a crucial time to explore and develop an identity.

In the scientific literature, adolescents’ body image has received enormous attention, but research has focused predominantly on girls and body dissatisfaction, rather than positive body image.Low body satisfaction has been associated with the development of mental health conditions, both eating related and global, hence focus on body dissatisfaction is warranted.A low body satisfaction is associated with mild eating concerns, such as frequent dieting and has been reported to be predictive in the development of eating disorders (Ackard, Croll & Kearney-Cooke, 2002).Increased depressive symptoms, anxiety, low self-esteem and an increase in risk-taking behaviours (Granner, Black & Abood, 2002) such as increased alcoh...

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...ipating in more sports better than none? At what intensity does body image begin to improve?). Further, it may identify particular sports that give greater body satisfaction. This may educate parents, teachers and coaches the importance of sport participation and encourage their children and students to join a sport. It may encourage schools to implement more compulsory structured physical activity, in a group context as sport participation may have potential to provide adolescents with positive values and experiences increasing body esteem. If schools implement more structured sport this may help adolescents, as the likelihood of one being satisfied with their body may increase. The sporting context may point to the importance of health and fitness as a potential protective factor against body dissatisfaction in a society that often emphasizes the thin ideal.