Body image and disordered eating in aesthetic sports: the influence of coaches and the sports environment

Body image is a multidimensional construct that affects individuals’ psychological and physical well-being, especially during critical developmental stages such as adolescence. Body image is particularly relevant in the context of aesthetic sports, where physical appearance is central to performance evaluation. Female athletes of aesthetic sports are subject to both sociocultural and sport-specific pressures to maintain an ideal body weight and shape; they are therefore at a higher risk of developing body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and clinical eating disorders, compared to the general female population. The aim of this thesis is to examine body image and disordered eating in female athletes of aesthetic sports, with particular attention to the influence of coaches and the sports environment. The first part of the thesis explores body image, disordered eating and the sociocultural pressure toward thinness in the general female population. The second part examines body image in female athletes of aesthetic sports, with particular focus on the role of contextual factors such as the coach-athlete relationship. The final part of the thesis reviews psychological interventions aimed at promoting positive body image and preventing disordered eating in female athletes. Specifically, the psychoeducation of coaches is discussed, since they have an essential role in modelling positive body image and promoting healthier and more supportive sports environments.