Predictive factors of eating disorders in dancers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate predictive factors of eating disorders that apply specifically to the environmental influences of dancers. This study surveyed female dance majors from multiple universities on the environmental influences of collegiate dance such as anticipated career, genre, how they use the mirror, how often they use the mirror in class, and how often they compare themselves to others in class. Those factors were then compared to measures that quantify known predictive factors of eating disorders such as Perfectionistic Characteristics, Body Checking Behavior, and Body Image Acceptance. It was hypothesized that pursuit of the ballet genre, as well as pursuit of a performance career would negatively affect participant’s scores on Perfectionism, Body Checking, and Body Image Acceptance, thus putting them at higher risk for eating disorder development. Results showed this was not the case. Career and genre were deemed non-significant contributors to the predictive factors measured. However, in exploratory analysis, it was found that body checking scores positively correlated with mirror duration, mirror use, and comparison; and perfectionism positively correlated with mirror use, mirror duration and comparison.