title: Young females in the athletic arena.
abstract: There are factors that uniquely affect young females in sports. The sociologic aspects of female youth sports can be understood from a historical perspective. Athletics have an influence on the development of young girls, from gender identity and sexual orientation to the foundations of self-esteem and moral development. There is a relationship between certain psychopathologic conditions common in girls and athletics, including eating disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders. Although involvement in sports may engender some of these problems, others may be successfully treated through physical exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Baum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D009014:Morals; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*