Body dissatisfaction in women's artistic gymnastics: A longitudinal study of psychosocial indicators.
Body dissatisfaction is prevalent in women's artistic gymnastics (WAG). Cross-sectional research points to social and individual risk factors, however it does not account for potential changes in body dissatisfaction during an athletic season. This study aimed to determine how gymnasts' body dissatisfaction, risk factors for eating disorders, media internalisation, perfectionism and mood state change during pre-competition, competition and post-competition seasons and to identify how these psychosocial indicators impact on body dissatisfaction during the athletic year. The sample consisted of 20 Brazilian elite women's artistic gymnasts aged 10-16 years. Data were obtained from a 9-month study using: Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ); Eating Attitude Test-26; Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3); Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS); Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Body dissatisfaction was higher during the competition season and disordered eating, perfectionism and vigour values were higher in the pre-competition season. Disordered eating has been found as the strongest predictor of body dissatisfaction during all seasons, and mood state partly contributed to body dissatisfaction in the competitive season. Stakeholders should understand that body dissatisfaction and the prevalence of disordered eating may change over time.
a Faculty of Physical Education and Sport , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de Fora , Brazil.
Clara Mockdece
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5240-6710
CM
Neves
a Faculty of Physical Education and Sport , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de Fora , Brazil.
Juliana Fernandes
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8396-6449
JF
Filgueiras Meireles
b Department of Physical Education , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Governador Valadares , Brazil.
Pedro Henrique
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4918-5080
PH
Berbert de Carvalho
c Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
Astrid
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8436-7149
A
Schubring
c Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
Natalie
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3918-7904
N
Barker-Ruchti
a Faculty of Physical Education and Sport , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de Fora , Brazil.
Maria Elisa
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3294-7560
ME
Caputo Ferreira
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D000072639:Perfectionism; D012307:Risk Factors; D061108:Social Media
Body dissatisfaction; adolescents; aesthetic sports; competitive period; eating disorders