Body Image in Dance and Sport: Theoretical Approaches and Evaluation Scales

Abstract

The body image of dancers and athletes affects important aspects of their health and performance and is linked to clinical and psychological parameters. Previous research has shown that the concept of body image is examined through different sciences and theoretical approaches, is structured into different models and is evaluated with different psychometric tools. The aim of this review was to examine the main theoretical approaches to body image, analyze its main dimensions and components, as well as to identify evaluation scales with adequate psychometric properties, that have been used to evaluate it. The concept of body image derives from previous concepts, such as somato-sensation and somato-representation. Body image includes the subjective perceptions, beliefs, emotions, attitudes and behaviors of a person towards its body, as created through the interaction of the person with other people and the environment. Body image is a multidimensional concept that includes four components (perceptual, cognitive, emotional and behavioral), characterized by a negative or a positive dimension. Twenty-nine questionnaires with adequate psychometric properties that assess separate components of body image were retrieved from the literature. The lack of specific psychometric tools for dancers and athletes highlights the need for further research on the evaluation of these populations’ body image aiming to protect their health and performance.