Attitudes to Body Image in Athlete and Non-Athlete Female Students

The aim of this study was to compare attitudes to body image in athlete and non-athlete female students. For this purpose, 200 athlete and non-athlete female students were randomly selected and took part in the present study. Questionnaires were distributed among volunteers and finally, 160 questionnaires were collected and used. Self-Body image was assessed using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MBSRQ); included 69 items, 7 factors subscales and 3 additional subscales. Variables regarding athletes and non-athletes were compared using independent sample t test. Research findings showed that the scores of some subscales such as “Appearance Orientation” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.05);, “Health Evaluation” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.01);, “Health Orientation” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.01); and “Body Areas Satisfaction” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.01); in athletes were significantly higher than those of non-athletes. However, scores of fitness evaluation in non-athletes were significantly higher than athletes insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.01);. There was no significant difference between the two groups in other subscales. Exercise training appears to improve some subscales of attitudes to body image of female athletes and it can serve as a therapeutic way to enhance the attitudes of non-athlete ones.