Training in classical dance in childhood and adolescence: What influence on bulimia nervosa in adult patients?

Abstract

EDI‐scores of two groups of patients (one with no or relatively short and one with extended training in classical ballet dancing in the past) in treatment at an outpatient clinic for eating disorders were compared. The two groups were not different on main clinical characteristics or on a composite variable Bulimic Syndrome (based on a factor analysis) in which scores on the EDI‐subscales Bulimia, Body Dissatisfaction, and Interpersonal Distrust were combined. Significant differences were found for Emotional Deficiency (Interoceptive Awareness and Maturity Fears) and Performance Striving (Drive for Thinness, Perfectionism, and Ineffectiveness), patients with extended ballet training in the past having significantly higher scores.

Gender differences in adolescent sport participation, teasing, self‐objectification and body image concerns

“…This finding is in accord with previous studies that have demonstrated higher incidence of disordered eating among ballet students (e.g. Abraham, 1996a, 1996b; Anshel, 2004; Garner & Garfinkel, 1980; Neumärker, Bettle, Bettle, Dudeck, & Neumärker, 1998; Neumärker, Bettle, Neumärker, & Bettle, 2000), former dancers (Archinard & Scherer, 1995) and gymnasts (Kerr, Berman, & Souza, 2006). Taken together with the findings about exercising at the gym discussed above, the results support the notion that participation in sports and activities that have a strong focus on appearance is related to higher levels of body image concern.…”

Perfectionism in Sport, Dance, and Exercise

“…At a similar time, Szymanski and Chrisler (1991) compared athletes and non-athletes in terms of factors common among those with eating disorders, and one of these factors was perfectionism. The earliest studies in dance and exercise were published at a similar time (Archinard & Scherer, 1995;Davis, 1990). However, most of the research in these three domains has appeared much more recently.…”

Dancing in a culture of disordered eating: A feminist poststructural analysis of body and body image among young girls in the world of dance

“…This criterion was based on previous studies that found dancers who train in a competitive environment, where ballet is part of their dance training, are more likely to experience EDBs [ 69 – 71 , 104 ]. Archinard and Scherer [ 104 ] for example found females with five or more years of ballet experience displayed a higher level of psychological symptoms associated with EDBs when compared to females with less than five years of dance training. This was found to be a result of increased exposure to the dance environment [ 104 ].…”

“…Archinard and Scherer [ 104 ] for example found females with five or more years of ballet experience displayed a higher level of psychological symptoms associated with EDBs when compared to females with less than five years of dance training. This was found to be a result of increased exposure to the dance environment [ 104 ]. Although this research did not target dancers with EDBs, it was important that dancers had spent enough time in the world of dance to speak to the influence that dance culture had on their relationship with body and body image.…”