EVALUATION OF AN INTERVENTION PROGRAM ON BODY ESTEEM, EATING ATTITUDES AND PRESSURE TO BE THIN IN RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS ATHLETES

Evdoxia Kosmidou; Miltiadis Proios; Evgenia Giannitsopoulou; Theofanis Siatras; George Doganis; Michalis Proios; Helen Douda; Anna Fachantidou-Tsiligiroglou

doi:10.52165/sgj.7.3.23-36

Authors

Evdoxia Kosmidou Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Miltiadis Proios Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Evgenia Giannitsopoulou Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Theofanis Siatras Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
George Doganis Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Michalis Proios Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Helen Douda Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece
Anna Fachantidou-Tsiligiroglou Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52165/sgj.7.3.23-36

Keywords:

rhythmic gymnastics, intervention, body esteem, eating attitudes, pressure to be thin

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcomes following a 3-months intervention program addressed toward body esteem, eating attitudes and pressure to be thin by others in Greek rhythmic gymnastics athletes. In the program participated 49 athletes (29 in the intervention group and 20 in the control group). Both groups completed self reported questionnaires at baseline and after the intervention. From the results it was shown that after the intervention participants in intervention group increased body esteem, decreased eating attitudes (in general, diet, boulimia and preoccupation) and pressure to be thin by experts and parents. On the other hand, participants in control group decreased body esteem and self-esteem of body image, while they increased eating attitudes (general, and diet scale) and perceived pressure to be thin by coaches and experts. The program was assessed by participants in intervention group as very relevant to rhythmic gymnastics, high in believability and high in promoting emotions. The source of the intervention was evaluated as informed, persuasive and reliable. This is the first controlled intervention applied to rhythmic gymnastics athletes in Greece and elements for future initiatives are identified and discussed.

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