ABSTRACT

Professional ballet dancers are known as a high-risk group for adopting disordered eating behaviours. However, research regarding the professionals of other dance styles/genres is quite limited. The present study explored disordered eating, social physique anxiety (SPA) and perceived pressure for a thin body in professional dancers of different dance styles and genres. The Eating Attitude Test questionnaire (EAT-26), the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS), and the questionnaire for thin body by significant others were administered to 108 professional dancers of ballet (n = 37), Latin (n = 31) and traditional dance (n = 40). The results showed that seven dancers had an EAT-26 score ≥20, indicating abnormal eating behaviour. No statistically significant differences were found among the three dance groups in any assessment tool, even after controlling for age, sex and professional experience. However, when Body Mass Index (BMI) was added as a potential confounder in the model, significant differences were revealed. Our results indicate that BMI and not the dance genre is an important contributing factor for both the self-control of eating and the perceived pressure from co-dancers and choreographers. If a better ‘dance life’ is to be accomplished, actions aiming at enhancing positive relationships within professional dance environment would be beneficial for dancers.

摘要

专业芭蕾舞演员被认为是饮食失调的高危人群。然而，关于其他舞蹈风格/流派的专业人士的研究相当有限。本研究探讨了不同舞蹈风格和流派的职业舞者的饮食失调、社交体质焦虑（SPA）和瘦身压力。对 108 名芭蕾舞（n = 37）、拉丁舞（n = 31）和传统舞蹈（n = 40）。结果显示，7名舞者的EAT-26得分≥20，表明饮食行为异常。在任何评估工具中，三个舞蹈组之间均未发现统计学上的显着差异，即使在控制了年龄、性别和职业经验之后。然而，当将体重指数 (BMI) 作为潜在的混杂因素添加到模型中时，就会显示出显着的差异。我们的研究结果表明，体重指数（而非舞蹈类型）是饮食自控以及舞伴和编舞感知压力的重要影响因素。如果要实现更好的“舞蹈生活”，旨在增强专业舞蹈环境中积极关系的行动将对舞者有益。我们的研究结果表明，体重指数（而非舞蹈类型）是饮食自控以及舞伴和编舞感知压力的重要影响因素。如果要实现更好的“舞蹈生活”，旨在增强专业舞蹈环境中积极关系的行动将对舞者有益。我们的研究结果表明，体重指数（而非舞蹈类型）是饮食自控以及舞伴和编舞感知压力的重要影响因素。如果要实现更好的“舞蹈生活”，旨在增强专业舞蹈环境中积极关系的行动将对舞者有益。