Ballet teachers: A source of perceived weight loss pressure in female ballet students.

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the role of the ballet teacher as a perceived source of weight loss pressure for the ballet student. Another purpose was to examine whether there could be a positive relationship between the reported use of unhealthy methods of losing weight and the perception of the teacher as a source of weight loss pressure. Finally, we sought to identify the forms of communication used by the teachers that could be construed as weight loss pressures by the students. Forty ballet students participated in the study and completed the BALLET Scale, Eating Behaviors Scale and the Athletic Image Scale. Students were placed into one of two groups based on their answers to the Athletic Image Scale (combined-pressures, no-pressures). The results showed that students did perceive the teacher as a source of weight loss pressure. Further, a positive relationship existed between students who perceived the teacher as a source of weight loss pressure and unhealthy eating behaviors. The results also showed that students in the combined-pressures group perceived more forms of communication by the teacher as weight loss pressures.