Through the Hoop: How Sports Participation Displaces Media Use and Is Related to Body Self-Esteem in Competitive Female Athletes

Abstract

This exploratory study analyzed competitive adolescent female athletes' use of entertainment media and sports participation and looked for possible predictors of more positive body self-esteem, an affective trait that could be present in women who have eating disorder tendencies. In this survey of 80 8-18 female athletes, overall body self-esteem was found to be quite high, but athletes in specific sports (golf, volleyball, and soccer) were much more likely to have a more positive outlook on their body shape than athletes in other sports such as gymnastics. The samples' recall of their media use was quite detailed and specific because so much media use was displaced by their involvement in sports. It was further found that older athletes, between 12-18, were more likely to believe that television played an important and influential role in learning how to be a girl. These and other findings are discussed.