Female Athlete Body Project Intervention with Professional Dancers: A Pilot Trial.

Female Athlete Body Project Intervention with Professional Dancers: A Pilot Trial. Eat Disord. 2019 Jun 24;:1-18 Authors: Gorrell S, Schaumberg K, Boswell JF, Hormes JM, Anderson DA Abstract As aesthetic athletes, professional dancers have increased vulnerability for eating disorders (EDs), with three times higher risk than non-dancers. Among ballet dancers, generalized risk for EDs associated with internalization of western cultural female beauty ideals is compounded by idealization of a ballet-specific body ideal, a combination that confers unique vulnerability for eating pathology. Empirical support has been established for an athlete-specific intervention promoting body acceptance and reduced eating pathology among general populations of young-adult women and female collegiate athletes; the current study adapted this intervention for pilot implementation among professional ballet dancers. Participants from two elite ballet companies (N = 19) were randomized to a control and intervention condition. All participants self-reported eating pathology and related variables pre- and post-intervention, and at six-week follow-up. Post-intervention, participants receiving the intervention demonstrated reductions in body dissatisfaction, p = .005, r = -.63, dietary restraint, p = .008, r = -.59, and eating pathology, p = .007, r = -.60, as compared to control group counterparts; significant differences were retained at follow-up. Results pro...
Source: Eating Disorders - Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Authors: Tags: Eat Disord Source Type: research