| dc.description.abstract | The influence of the media on young females is a consistent problem: drive for thinness,
unrealistic body expectations, and pressure to become something unattainable. Athletic
involvement can produce overwhelmingly positive outcomes, countering negative influential
media messages. This research was conducted to expand upon the importance of sport
participation using a survey. Twenty-six female student athletes from Minnesota participated, all
13-17 years old. Results revealed that athletes did not feel pressured by the media to change
their bodies. Athletes are able to challenge the negative impacts of the media and, instead, are
discovering what their bodies are capable of doing. Conversely, they generally rated themselves
as overweight on a Likert scale, despite the majority of participants (68%) being classified as
normal or underweight according to their body mass index. Although sport participation poses
numerous benefits (fewer mental health problems, strong academic achievement, and increased
chances of staying active in adulthood), the underlying concern of the media’s voice on body
image still exists. Fortunately, females are becoming more involved in athletics: 69% of
participants were involved in more than one sport and 61% were involved in sports 10-12
months of the year. Overall, sports provide valuable, healthy, and long-term opportunities for
athletes. | en_US |
