Preliminary development of the weight pressures in sport scale for male athletes

Recent research has demonstrated that male athletes are facing increased pressure to meet a body ideal for their sport (Galli & Reel, 2009). In this exploratory study the authors developed a preliminary measure designed to examine weight pressures that are specific to male athletes. Using 203 Division I male athletes from three large U.S. universities, two factors were identified (coach/teammate pressures, and appearance pressures) from the 14-item weight pressures in sport scale for males (WPS-M). The athletes reported significantly more coach/teammate pressures than appearance pressures, and the results of multiple regression analyses indicated that both types of weight pressures contributed to the prediction of disordered eating and body change strategies. The findings are connected with research on body image and eating disorders among males and among athletes. Specifically, the pattern of relationships suggests that weight pressures operate independently of body image and affect in predicting unhealthy body change strategies in male athletes. Future research with diverse samples of male athletes is needed to further assess the validity and reliability of the WPS-M. Finally, suggestions for how sport psychologypractitioners may use the WPS-M to promote the health and well-being of male athletes are provided
Although at lower rates than women, men do suffer from eating disorders. Lifetime prevalence rates for anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED), are 0.9%, 1.5%, [...]