Attitudes to Body Image in Athlete and Non-Athlete Female Students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare attitudes to body image in athlete and non-athlete female students. For this purpose, 200 athlete and non-athlete female students were randomly selected and took part in the present study. Questionnaires were distributed among volunteers and finally, 160 questionnaires were collected and used. Self-Body image was assessed using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) included 69 items, 7 factors subscales and 3 additional subscales. Variables regarding athletes and non-athletes were compared using independent sample t test. Research findings showed that the scores of some subscales such as “Appearance Orientation” (p<0.05), “Health Evaluation” (p<0.01), “Health Orientation” (p<0.01) and “Body Areas Satisfaction” (p<0.01) in athletes were significantly higher than those of non-athletes. However, scores of fitness evaluation in nonathletes were significantly higher than athletes (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in other subscales. Exercise training appears to improve some subscales of attitudes to body image of female athletes and it can serve as a therapeutic way to enhance the attitudes of non-athlete ones.