Body esteem, body dissatisfaction and body mass index in ballet dancers and students

Abstract

During the last decade, some authors have emphasized the importance of describing and understanding positive aspects of body image, for example, body esteem, especially in samples from different artistic-aesthetic disciplines. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to compare body esteem and body dissatisfaction, between two groups of women matched for age (ballet dancers and students) and analyze the relationship between these variables with the body mass index (BMI). Seventy women participated, with an age range of 12 to 20 years. All the participants were weighed and measured, and answered a short version of the Body Image Questionnaire and the Body Esteem Scale. The analysis of results indicated that ballet dancers have a lower body mass index (BMI), lower body dissatisfaction, and higher body esteem for physical condition and concern about weight than the students. Finally, in the group of dancers, the BMI was associated with body dissatisfaction, but not with body esteem. In contrast, in the group of students, BMI was associated with both body esteem and body dissatisfaction. The findings of the present study may have implications in the development and implementation of strategies that strengthen body esteem and body image of women who practice artistic-aesthetic disciplines.