Comparison of male and female junior athletes' self-perceptions and body image.
Few studies have examined sex differences in body perceptions in sports where the pressure to display a certain physique is reduced. The aim of the present study was to investigate sex differences in physical self-perceptions and body image in junior athletes who are involved in sprint kayaking, a sport where a low body weight is relatively unimportant. 12 male and 13 female members (aged 13-17 yr.) of the British Canoe Union Junior Development Squad for sprint-kayak racing completed the Physical Self-perception Profile for Children and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that girls reported significandy higher Sports Competence and lower Appearance Orientation scores than boys. This study has raised a number of issues surrounding the physical self-perceptions and body image of junior athletes involved in a power- and strength-based sport. It seems that male athletes may also experience pressures to conform to a male version of a 'beautiful body'.
Daley
A J
AJ
Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, South Yorkshire, UK. a.daley@shu.ac.uk
Hunter
B
B
D001824:Body Constitution; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*