Abstract
Body image reflects one’s perceptions, cognitions, emotions, and behaviours related to their body’s appearance/function. Research exists on women athletes’ body image; however, women officials (i.e., referees, umpires, judges) have been overlooked. Our purposes were to: (a) explore women officials’ body image and (b) compare their body image perceptions across sociodemographic characteristics. Participants were 227 women officials in Canada (10 sports; 6 competitive levels), aged 14-73 years (M=36.04, SD=16.29) with 1-55 years’ experience (M=11.46, SD=10.63). Forty-seven participants identified as LGBTQIA2S+ with 9 ethnicities represented. Most participants reported being “neither under nor overweight” (n=95) and “slightly overweight” (n=82). Participants completed (a) Body Appreciation Scale-2 (M=3.55, SD=0.72); sometimes body-positive), (b) Body Surveillance Scale (M=4.27, SD=1.27; neutral about scrutinizing their bodies), and (c) Appearance-related Self-conscious Emotions (range of M=2.36-2.79, SD=0.84-0.99; rarely/occasionally experienced shame, guilt, pride, envy, and embarrassment). ANOVAs revealed differences for (a) age (older officials [>60 years] reported more positive body image compared to younger officials [<30 years]) and (b) size (individuals perceiving themselves as overweight/slightly overweight experienced more negative body image). Correlations uncovered a positive relationship for age and body appreciation, with negative relationships between age and body surveillance, shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment. It is concerning that younger officials report more negative body image. Further, as women officials have a lack of women mentors, learning body positivity from older women officials could be challenging for young officials. Organizations should be wary, as negative body image is a precursor to negative mental health, which influences workplace safety.
