The Effects Of Athletic Identity And Perceptions Of Masculinity On Body Image In Male Collegiate Wrestlers

Successful wrestling performance is largely dictated by weight. Some wrestlers engage in rapid weight loss (RWL) to maximize performance at lower weight classes. These methods can negatively affect male body image (BI) and physical health, but the current prevalence of RWL in wrestling is unknown. The present study examined perceptions of masculinity in relation to BI in male collegiate wrestlers. Survey data were collected from active male NCAA wrestlers that completed the 26-Item Eating Attitudes Test, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, the Athlete Identity Measurement Scale, the Hoffman Gender Scale, and three open-ended response items. Eating disorder (ED) risk was positively related to appearance self-importance, body weight vigilance and negatively related to BI satisfaction regarding specific body areas. Gender self-acceptance was related to lower BI self-importance. Qualitative data indicates similarities in traits associated with successful wrestlers and the traditional ideal male. The methods wrestlers use to exemplify those traits can negatively affect their eating behaviors and BI self-perception. The information in this study can be used to inform the development of safer weight loss practices and specialized educational programs for ED risk for wrestlers. This study highlights a need for further qualitative analysis of this relationship in collegiate wrestling