Masotti Sabrina, Piva Tommaso, Zerbini Valentina, Raisi Andrea, Menegatti Erica, Pagani Anselmo, Bigoni Costanza, Ballarin Elena, De Luca Federica, Zaccagni Luciana, Rinaldo Natascia, Toselli Stefania, Gualdi-Russo Emanuela, Argentoni Antonio, Veli Arli, Mazzoni Gianni, Mandini Simona
Center for Exercise Science and Sport, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
PhD Program in Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
Children (Basel). 2024 Jul 3;11(7):818. doi: 10.3390/children11070818.
Body image perception can significantly influence various aspects of adolescent lives. The study analyzed the relationship between body image satisfaction and sports participation in adolescents, examining various factors that contribute to body image concerns and their implications for sports engagement.
A total of 237 schoolchildren were recruited from lower secondary Italian schools. Anthropometric characteristics were measured directly. Assessment of body image perception was performed using Body Silhouette Charts for preadolescent children. The Italian version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents questionnaire was administered to assess physical activity (PA) levels at school and during leisure time in the last 7 days. Analysis of variance was used to test differences in PA levels, while multiple regression models were carried out to assess possible predictors of body dissatisfaction.
In total, 42.6% of children were not satisfied with their figure and 23.2% were very dissatisfied; among them, the vast majority would have liked to be thinner. The dissatisfaction and satisfaction were similar in boys and girls. The frequency of satisfaction with one's body image was higher in children who practiced extracurricular sports compared to those who did not. The percentage of dissatisfaction with one's body image was similar in the two groups, but the frequency of children being very dissatisfied was double in the group that does not practice extracurricular sport (31.2% vs. 17.7%). Body dissatisfaction increases with increasing body mass index in both genders but decreases in children involved in extracurricular sports.
Encouraging teenagers to engage in regular physical activity should be a key component of therapies supporting positive body image. This study found a relationship between extracurricular sports and body image satisfaction, suggesting that physical activity protects teenagers' body image satisfaction.
身体形象认知会对青少年生活的各个方面产生重大影响。本研究分析了青少年身体形象满意度与体育参与之间的关系，探讨了导致身体形象问题的各种因素及其对体育参与的影响。
从意大利初中招募了237名学童。直接测量人体测量学特征。使用针对青春期前儿童的身体轮廓图进行身体形象认知评估。采用意大利版青少年国际体力活动问卷来评估过去7天在校和休闲时间的身体活动（PA）水平。使用方差分析来检验PA水平的差异，同时进行多元回归模型以评估身体不满的可能预测因素。
总体而言，42.6%的儿童对自己的身材不满意，23.2%的儿童非常不满意；其中，绝大多数希望自己更瘦。男孩和女孩的不满与满意情况相似。与不参加课外体育活动的儿童相比，参加课外体育活动的儿童对身体形象的满意度更高。两组中对身体形象不满意的百分比相似，但不参加课外体育活动的组中儿童非常不满意的频率是参加课外体育活动组的两倍（31.2%对17.7%）。身体不满在男女两性中均随体重指数的增加而增加，但在参加课外体育活动的儿童中则有所下降。
鼓励青少年定期进行体育活动应是支持积极身体形象疗法的关键组成部分。本研究发现课外体育活动与身体形象满意度之间存在关联，表明体育活动能保护青少年的身体形象满意度。
