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Objectives This study examined the within-variable stability and prospective cross-lagged pathways between body satisfaction, negative affect, self-reported intentions to engage in dietary restraint, and bulimic symptomatology among female collegiate athletes in weight-sensitive sports. Design This study employed a cross-lagged longitudinal design. Method Female collegiate gymnasts, swimmers, and divers ( n = 325) completed paper-pencil survey batteries at the beginning (Time 1) and end (Time 2) of their 5-month athletic season, including measures of body satisfaction, intentions to engage in dietary restraint, negative affect, and bulimic symptomatology. Results From Time 1 to Time 2, stability coefficients were highest for intentions to engage in dietary restraint and bulimic symptomatology. Significant cross-lagged relations revealed that Time 1 body satisfaction predicted a decrease in Time 2 negative affect, Time 1 bulimic symptomatology predicted a decrease in Time 2 body satisfaction, and Time 1 negative affect predicted a decrease in Time 2 intentions to engage in dietary restraint. Conclusions The relative stability of intentions to engage in dietary restraint and bulimic symptomatology suggests that certain disordered eating behaviors may become more resistant to change over the course of an athletic season and solidify while competing in college. The cross-lagged associations demonstrate the importance of targeting body satisfaction, negative affect, and bulimic behaviors when designing interventions for female collegiate athletes, and implementing such programs at the beginning of an athletic season. Risk factors for bulimic symptomatology should be examined over a time period longer than one athletic season and during transitional experiences (e.g., high school to college sports). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a critical time for the development of psychological well-being. Weight gain and the emergence of body image concerns during this period can lead to the development of negative psychological states. To explore this issue, we examined the relationship between weight control behavior (WCB; ie, trying to lose, gain, stay the same, or do nothing about weight) and levels of depression and self-esteem. METHODS: Adolescents (508 boys, 502 girls; Mage =12.32±.88 years) completed a survey that assessed WCB, depression, and self-esteem. Descriptive discriminant analysis was used to analyze WCB group differences on psychological well-being. Multivariate post hoc analysis further examined group differences. Structure coefficients indicated the relative importance of each dependent variable in boys and girls. RESULTS: Results indicated that, among both sexes, WCB was significantly related to depression and self-esteem. Individuals trying to lose weight had lower levels of psychological well-being than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents trying to lose weight reported the lowest psychological well-being scores whereas those not doing anything to control weight reported the highest levels of psychological well-being. These findings have important implications for screening and education programs designed to monitor and support adolescent psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual attractions as well as sexual and nonsexual boundary crossings (SBCs & NSBCs, respectively) have been examined within counseling and clinical psychology (Pope, 1988), though little research has addressed these issues within sport psychology. Thus, we examined the incidence of sexual attraction and the SBCs and NSBCs of male (n = 170) and female (n = 105) sport psychology consultants (SPCs) with their client-athletes. The SPCs had earned their degrees in exercise or sport science (n = 201) or psychology (n = 65); 9 did not provide their degree area. Of the 112 SPCs who reported being sexually attracted to least 1 of their client-athletes, 13.6% SPCs crossed sexual boundaries, primarily by discussing sexual matters unrelated to their work; no SPC reported kissing, dating, or having sexual intercourse with a client-athlete. Regarding actual boundary crossings, the SPCs attended client-athletes' sporting events (89.4%), initiated nonsexual touching (58.1%), attended social gatherings (43.5%), traveled with client-athletes (34.9%), and remained at parties with client-athletes (31.9%). There was no gender (male vs. female) by degree area (psychology vs. exercise or sport science) differences in frequency of these behaviors. SPCs trained in psychology viewed the following behaviors as more professionally acceptable than did those trained in exercise or sport science: (a) travel with client, (b) disclose personal stressors, (c) become social friends, (d) exchange a gift, (e) send holiday greeting card, (f) client is employed where SPC works, (g) client stay at SPC's house, and (h) form a business relationship with client. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined the relation of participation in an alternative sport (i.e., Roller Derby) in the U.S. to women's body image, gender role and self-esteem. Roller Derby ( n = 64) and non-Roller Derby ( n = 129) women participated; the majority of the women (59.4 to 77.7 %) were from Texas though participants also were drawn from 14 other states across the U.S. All the women completed quantitative measures of body esteem, self-esteem, and gender characteristics; the athletes also provided qualitative responses to questions about their Roller Derby persona, self-esteem, dress, and motivation. In both groups, self-esteem was related to endorsing more instrumental characteristics as well as with greater satisfaction with sexual attractiveness, weight, and physical condition. The Roller Derby women's endorsement of instrumental, as opposed to expressive, characteristics was related significantly to all three dimensions of body esteem. Roller Derby women endorsed more instrumental characteristics and were more satisfied with their weight and physical condition than the non-Roller Derby women; both groups reported generally high and similar levels of self-esteem and did not differ significantly on their satisfaction with their sexual attractiveness. Roller Derby challenges traditional hegemonic notions of masculinity/femininity and negates the idea of the female body as passive sex object. As a sport, Roller Derby may provide an alternate system of body evaluation based on functionality, rather than appearance. This alternative perspective may empower women who traditionally are seen as overweight and unfeminine in today's society, thereby instilling a more positive body image and instrumental view of themselves as athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]