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Degree

Master of Science in Sport Studies, Miami University, Sport Studies, 2011.

Abstract

The current study explored female college athletes’ experiences of specific others’ (i.e., coaches, teammates, and parents) communication about their sporting bodies and how they make sense of their bodies in relation to this communication. How they believed specific others should communicate with them about their bodies was also examined. Eight female National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college athletes were recruited. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 2004). Participants experienced communication from others as both supportive and unsupportive. Individualized athlete-centered training, recognizing body change, and relationship development were viewed as supportive means of communicating, whereas comparing athletes’ bodies, critical comments, and threatening sport participation were perceived as negative. These athletes experienced the sport environment as emphasizing bodies ready for successful sport performance in a variety of ways. The participants perceived conflicts between sport performing body ideals and dominant social ideals of feminine bodies.

Subject Headings

Health; Kinesiology

Keywords

Body Image; Female Athletes; Communication; Sporting Body Ideals

Committee / Advisors

Rose Marie Ward, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Valeria J. Freysinger, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Robin S. Vealey, PhD (Committee Member)

Document number: miami1312821512
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1312821512

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