Relationship of general self-esteem, body-esteem, BMI and eating disorders among athletes and non-athletes girls

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of general self-esteem, bodyesteem components and body mass index and eating disorders among athletes and non-athletes junior girls.

Research method was correlational design. 152 people (61 gymnasts, 42 swimmers and 49 non-athletes) participated in this study. In order to collect data, the self-esteem scale, the body-esteem scale, the eating attitudes test, and the body mass index were used. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation, t test and multiple regression.

regression analysis indicated that, in swimmers, body weight and physical attractiveness subscales, in gymnasts, physical attractiveness’s subscale and in non-athletes, body weight subscale were significantly predicted eating disorders among girls. No significant relationship was found between appearance subscale and eating disorders.

Regarding to the results, body esteem (especially, subscales of body weight and body attractiveness) has significant contribution in eating disorders among girls. Results show interesting aspects of the relationship between eating disorders and psychological variables.