F. Viviani1,2 and Saggiorato A.2
doi: 10.12863/ejssbx4x1-2016x1
1Biomedicine Department.
2FISPPA Department, University of Padua, Italy
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Abstract
To gain insights on body image (BI) and body satisfaction/dissatisfaction (BS) in high level rugby players, to 47 male athletes aged 23.4 ± 3.54 years, two questionnaires were administered: a figurine test for BI and a Likert-type scale for BS containing a body part statisfaction scale. Subjects were asked to report vital and curricular data, together with height and weight. Because of the wide use of their bodies, it was hypothesized that they were lesser biased than average Italians. They were subdivided into two groups A=Excellence, n=30, and B=League, n=17. This on the basis of the level of performance reached, after a thorough scrutiny of their curricula. Significant differences between the two subgroups emerged for curricular data, weight and body mass index. In both BI data are congruent with their complexion and, for BS, the degree of satisfaction with the various body parts was quite high. Comparisons carried out with data available in literature for Italians and with a cohort of speleologists, confirm the hypothesis that the wide use of the body for working or leisure purposes exerts a positive influence on BI and BS.
Key words: Body image, body satisfaction, rugby players.