University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
PSY 105 | General Psychology
Academic year:

2022
Views:

416

Pages:

2
Author:

Jithin J. I.

SOCIAL PHYSIQUE ANXIETY AND BODY-RELATED EMOTIONS IN SPORT AND EXERCISE Social Physique Anxiety (SPA)  Definition: Social Physique Anxiety is the anxiety a person feels due to perceived or actual judgments of their physical appearance by others.  Rooted in Social Anxiety and Self-Presentation: SPA is closely related to social anxiety and self-presentation, especially in settings that emphasize physical appearance and ability, such as sport and exercise contexts.  Negative Outcomes of SPA:  Reduced feelings of competence and enjoyment.  Symptoms of disordered eating, depression, and competitive anxiety.  Behavioral avoidance, such as avoiding situations where one's physique is on display.  Impact on Sport and Exercise: SPA can negatively influence engagement in physical activities, leading to reduced participation in sports and exercise.  Interpersonal Factors: Acceptance and belonging in peer groups can reduce SPA in physical education class. However, mothers, teachers, and coaches who emphasize appearance can trigger SPA.  Environmental Factors: Factors such as exercising in front of a mirror, viewing physique-focused videos, and changing in locker rooms can heighten SPA.  SPA Reduction: Engaging in certain physical activities like resistance exercise or yoga can reduce state SPA, with yoga having a more significant effect. Body-Related Shame  Definition: Shame is a strong negative emotion experienced when an individual perceives a fundamental flaw in themselves, often related to physical appearance.  Attributions and Predictors: Body-related shame often arises from attributions that are controllable and stable. Environmental factors, physical selfdiscrepancies, objectification, body surveillance, and gender can be predictors of body-related shame.  Outcomes: Body-related shame is associated with higher depression symptoms, lower self-esteem, and behavioral avoidance in sport and exercise contexts. Body-Related Guilt  Definition: Body-related guilt is a negative emotion experienced when an individual's physical appearance or function does not align with personal or societal standards.  Attributions and Predictors: Unlike guilt in general, body-related guilt is often linked to stable and global attributions. Body surveillance, gender, and weight status can be predictors of body-related guilt.  Impact: Body-related guilt can lead to reparatory behaviors such as exercise but may also be related to maladaptive behaviors like overeating.  Sport and Exercise Impact: Body-related guilt can influence sport and exercise experiences, affecting enjoyment, commitment, and competitive anxiety.  Gender Considerations: Research is needed to explore how body-related emotions affect sport and exercise outcomes in adolescent boys. Conclusion:  Social Physique Anxiety and body-related emotions play significant roles in sport and exercise experiences and behaviors.  Understanding the factors that contribute to these emotions and their impact can help develop interventions and strategies to promote positive experiences in sport and exercise contexts.