Mental Skills as Protective Attributes Against Eating Disorder Risk in Dancers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether negative affect (anxiety and depression) mediates the relationship between environmental weight pressures and eating disorder risk (measured by the Eating Disorder Inventory-3rd Edition [EDI-3]—risk composite); and furthermore, whether mental skills (Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 [ACSI-28]) can decrease strength of said relationship (serving as protective factors) in dancers. Our study revealed that negative affect partially mediated the relationship between environmental pressure and eating disorder (ED) risk, and that mental skills did serve a protective factor, thus, decreasing the risk. Specifically, coping with adversity, freedom from worry, and self-confidence emerged as the most protective skills against eating disorders.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks are extendend to University Dance Department Chairs for their collaboration, and dancers who freely gave their time and effort in the completion of this study.