Background/Purpose Body image is an ever changing phenomenon that affects women daily, and the pervasive nature of positive and negative body image has a profound affect on quality of life. Body image research is expansive, yet there is little research on how Outdoor Education Programs influence body image in women. The purpose of this study was to examine body image among female participants in an Outdoor Education Program, and examine the influences, positive and negative, that this course has on these concepts.
Method Twenty-eight female physical education majors enrolled in a two week summer Outdoor Education Program were surveyed at the beginning and at the end of the course. The survey instrument used was the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) and the related Body Area Satisfaction Scale (BASS) subscale.
Analysis/Results A multi-linear regression was employed to test if preconceived body ideologies (Overweight Preoccupation, Body Satisfaction, and Self-Classified Weight) in the Body Area Satisfaction Scale led to greater change image with the Outdoor Education Program. Results indicate that a positive change in body image over the two week program was associated with lower scores in body satisfaction at the beginning of the program (two-sided t = 2.11, p = .05) while controlling for overweight preoccupation, current weight status and pre-test body image score.
Conclusions Subjects with low body satisfaction were able to accrue a positive increase in body image. Results of this study indicate that the Outdoor Education Program may have a positive affect on how females perceive their body image.
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