Perceptions and Utilization of Strength Training and Conditioning in Collegiate Contemporary and Ballet Dancers: A Qualitative Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-87
Author(s):  
Miriam Rosenthal ◽  
Alyssa M McPherson ◽  
Carrie L Docherty ◽  
Joanne Klossner

AIMS: Research demonstrates that dancers benefit from reduced injury risk and improved health by engaging in strength training and conditioning (STC). Historic bias within the discipline of dance, however, establishes a long-standing stigma that gains in muscle mass and strength lessen a dancer's aesthetic appearance, and thus many dancers rebuff STC as a supplement to dance training. However, there is growing evidence that dancers and dance educators are beginning to understand the importance of additional resistance training and cardiovascular conditioning. This study explored dancers' perceptions and utilization of STC using a general qualitative approach. METHODS: Twenty-three female collegiate dancers (13 contemporary dancers, 10 ballet dancers, mean age 19.95 x 0.97 yrs) volunteered to participate in this study. The principal investigator conducted individual, semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Inductive analysis revealed three major themes: 1) evolving body image, 2) motivation, and 3) education. Trustworthiness was established using member checks, peer debriefing, and journaling. This study concluded collegiate dancers utilized STC as a means to enhance the individual's body image. This was driven by a continuum of motivating factors. Although collegiate dancers are utilizing STC, education on STC techniques and practices was minimal. CONCLUSIONS: While further research is needed, results from this study suggest STC could be initiated and promoted in the discipline of dance to further enhance physical fitness and general well-being. Dancers and dance instructors should receive education about the importance of STC within dance training as well as how to safely implement STC exercise into training regimens.

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Manoela Vieira Sousa ◽  
Cilene Rebolho Martins ◽  
Morgana Lunardi ◽  
Grazieli Maria Biduski ◽  
Elisa Pinheiro Ferrari ◽  
...  

In Brazil, the evidence indicates a high prevalence of dissatisfaction with body image (BI) among adult women. Studies show that gym goers have characteristics that differ from other populations. Specifically, women who practice strength training (ST) exhibit intense concern about well-being, which presents as strong self-criticism of the body. This group of women are typically in search for an ideal body pattern stipulated by society. e purpose of the present study was to identify in the women the perception with BI, classify then as satisfied or dissatisfied, and association this information whit age group, anthropometric indicators (body mass index and perimeter of waist), and variables related to the practice of ST (purpose and time of the practice). The sample group consisted of 77 women aged 20 to 54 years (29.83 ± 9.75) who practiced ST. For the assessment of BI, the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) was used in addition to a questionnaire around the other variables. A descriptive analysis was used, chi-squared test and Fisher’s Exact test were adopted at a significance level of 5%. The results demonstrated that among all participants, 87.0% were satisfaction with BI. It was found association direct with the dissatisfaction of BI with the purpose of the practice of ST (p = 0.031) and with the practice time (p = 0.030). Were found, in which the women less satisfied with their BI were those who trained for body mass control and practiced ST for more than 6 months. The other variables did not show significant associations with BI. It is concluded that the women who practice ST have shown a positive perception regarding their body image, associated to the objective and the time of the practice.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heloisa C. Santo André ◽  
Ana Jessica Pinto ◽  
Bruna Caruso Mazzolani ◽  
Fabiana Infante Smaira ◽  
Mariana Dimitrov Ulian ◽  
...  

Aim: We aimed to explore how a group of classical ballet dancers perceived their eating attitudes and their bodies, with special attention to the potential presence of eating disorders (EDs) symptoms and body image (dis)satisfaction.Methods: A cross-sectional, mixed-method study was conducted on fourteen trained classical ballet dancers (18–30 years old). Their experiences, perceptions, and feelings regarding eating attitudes and body image concerning classical ballet were acquired through qualitative focus groups. The presence of EDs symptoms and perception and (dis)satisfaction with body image was analyzed quantitatively through self-report questionnaires.Results: Participants reported concerning eating attitudes during the focus groups, such as the regular practice of several restrictive popular diets, constant restriction of foods considered “heavy” or “fatty,” meal skipping and ignoring signs of hunger, presence of overeating episodes due to stress and anxiety, feeling guilty about breaking their usual diet, classifying foods as “good” and “bad” or “lean” and “fat,” and excluding some of those foods from their usual diets. These reports were partially reflected in the questionnaires, with 50% of the ballerinas showing bulimic symptoms indicative of an unusual eating pattern (only two of them with a significant risk index), 7.1% showing symptoms of moderate binge eating, and 14.3% symptoms of EDs in general. Additionally, when considering their bodies in the context of everyday life, participants were satisfied; however, in the “classical ballet” context, they reported feeling dissatisfied with their shape. These findings were in line with results from the Stunkard's Scale, which revealed that 50% of the sample was dissatisfied with their current body shape and 57.1% indicated that their desired body shape was a leaner figure than one they considered healthy.Conclusions: The constant practice of restrictive diets and other weight-loss strategies to achieve a leaner body were associated with symptoms of EDs and body dissatisfaction in this sample. Importantly, the questionnaires used seemed to underestimate the presence of a disordered eating pattern reported by the participants during focus groups. These data could help to inform psychological and nutritional strategies aimed at improving performance, physical and psychological well-being, and quality of life of ballet dancers.


Author(s):  
Charlene Erasmus ◽  
Shernaaz Carelse ◽  
Jessica Payne

Fatherhood intervention programmes seek to redress fundamental issues that prevent men from succeeding in their fathering role. An understanding and evidence of the influence of fatherhood interventions on the role of the father in the family are thus required. This study, conducted in South Africa, explored the perceptions and experiences of fathers and their partners after the fathers’ exposure to a fatherhood intervention programme. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was utilised to this end. A thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and three main themes emerged from the analysis. The study found that fathers and their partners perceived and experienced the fathers to be more involved, responsible, and sharing in parenthood after exposure to the fatherhood intervention programme. This led to an increase of father involvement with children – childcare activities, schoolwork, the well-being of the children, and an increase in involvement in the home.


Author(s):  
Raúl René Cantú-Hernández ◽  
Manuel Emiliano Quiroga Garza ◽  
David Leonardo Flores-Marín ◽  
Irma Elisa Erana-Rojas ◽  
Mildred Vanessa López Cabrera

Clinical clerkships allow students to transition from exclusively academic to real professional settings. This stressful transition can lead to burnout. Recent awareness has led to the creation of mentorship programs focused on improving students' well-being. A mentorship program was developed for students in the clinical clerkships to monitor and foster habits for well-being based on a six-pillar model: mental, social, emotional, academic, nutritional, and physical health. The purpose of the chapter is to present the model and preliminary results of a study that assessed the program's effects through the mentor's perception. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was used. Results indicate impact on mental (85%) and emotional health (85%), as evidenced by the identification of multiple red-flag cases. The implementation of programs must effectively foster students' self-assessment and allows them to develop better coping mechanisms.


Author(s):  
E. Whitney G. Moore

Strength training sessions are developed and overseen by strength and conditioning coaches, whose primary responsibilities are to maximize individuals’ athletic performance and minimize their injury risk. As the majority of education and certification for being a strength and conditioning coach focuses on physiology and physiological adaptations, biomechanics, and related scientific areas of study, there has been less emphasis on coaching behaviors, motivational techniques, pedagogical approaches, or psychological skills. These are important areas because to accomplish both long-term and short-term training goals, strength and conditioning coaches should use and train their athletes in the use of these techniques. Motivation of training session participants is essential to being an effective strength and conditioning coach. Coaches motivate their athletes through their behaviors, design and organization of the training sessions, teaching techniques, role modeling, relationships with the athletes, and the psychological skills they incorporate within and outside of the training sessions. Coaches also often teach athletes about psychological skills not to motivate the athlete but to assist the athlete in their performance, mental health, or general well-being. Some of these psychological skills are so ingrained in the strength and conditioning discipline that coaches do not recognize or categorize them as psychological skills. Because of the relationship built between strength coach and athlete, the strength and conditioning coach often provides informal knowledge of advice on topics regarding general life lessons or skills that can actually be categorized under psychological skills. However, the lack of formal education and training in sport psychology techniques also means that strength and conditioning coaches do not take full advantage of many behaviors, motivational techniques, and other psychological skills. These areas remain an area for further professional development and research within the strength and conditioning field.


1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Büssing ◽  
Thomas Bissels

The extended model of different forms of work satisfaction ( Büssing, 1991 ), originally proposed by Bruggemann (1974) , is suggested as a distinctive qualitative approach to work satisfaction. Six forms of work satisfaction—progressive, stabilized, resigned satisfaction, constructive, fixated, resigned dissatisfaction—are derived from the constellation of four constituent variables: comparison of the actual work situation and personal aspirations, global satisfaction, changes in level of aspiration, controllability at work. Preliminary evidence from semi-structured interviews with 46 nurses shows that the dynamic model is headed in the right direction (qualitative differentiation of consistently high propertions of satisfied employees, uncovering processes of person-work situation interaction). Qualitative methods demonstrated their usefulness in accessing underlying cognitive and evaluative processes of the forms, which are often neglected by traditional attitude-based satisfaction research.


Author(s):  
Rasa Jankauskienė ◽  
Brigita Miežienė

Research background and hypothesis. The analysis of factors which might infl uence exercise adherence is important issue for physical activity promotion. Studies show that exercisers’ body image is important factor associated with well being, exercise motivation and specifi c exercise–related behaviour.Research aim was is to examine the relationship between exercise adherence, body image and social physique anxiety in a sample of fi tness centre participants. Research methods. Members of fi tness centres (n = 217, 66 of them were women) provided their answers on exercise experience, in three subscales (appearance evaluation, appearance orientation and overweight preoccupation) of The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ-AS; Brown et al., 1990) and Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS; Hart et al., 1989). Mean age of the sample was 29.02 (9.85) years (range = 18–68 years).Research results. Women demonstrated higher appearance orientation, overweight preoccupation and social physique anxiety compared to men. However, we observed no signifi cant differences in appearance evaluation, appearance orientation and overweight preoccupation in the groups of different exercise experience of men and women. When overweight respondents (≥ 25 kg / m²) were excluded from the analysis, there were no statistically signifi cant differences observed in body image and social physique anxiety in exercise experience groups of men and women. Exercising longer than 6 years signifi cantly predicted overweight preoccupation [95% CI: 1.25–16.94] controlled by age and gender. Discussion and conclusions. Exercising men demonstrated more positive body image and lower social physique anxiety compared to women, except for appearance evaluation. There were observed no body image and social physique relationships with exercise adherence observed in the sample of fi tness centre participants, however, exercise experience longer than 6 years predicted overweight preoccupation.Keywords: body image concerns, exercise experience, self-presentation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tager ◽  
Glenn Good ◽  
Julie Morrison

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document