Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Integrated Article

Degree

Master of Fine Arts

Program

Kinesiology

Supervisor

Dr. Angela Schneider

Abstract

This multidisciplinary study has three main aspects and is guided by a critical feminist lens. One aspect lays out the philosophical feminist foundations, the context for the study and provides a literature review and brief history. A second aspect is guided by research questions which explore how COVID-19 impacted Canadian female Olympic athletes. Qualitative interview data was collected during a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded study and used for the empirical part of this paper. Participants included ten national level athletes (seven females and three males) and three coaches (two females and one male) from a variety of summer and winter sports. In addition, a web content analysis was done and took place in three stages, first examining the resources available on the Canadian Olympic Committees’ Game Plan website, then looking at each Olympic sanctioned National Sport Organization (NSO) and multi-sport organization (MSO) to determine the availability of resources on their websites. Athletes who train and compete at the elite level, such as at the Olympics, are highly susceptible to engaging in disordered eating behaviours and developing a negative body image due to environmental and social factors. The COVID-19 pandemic added additional pressure on athletes impacting their ability to train and compete. Athletes are in need of resources that will assist them in uncertain times. The empirical aspect looked at the potential for body image dissatisfaction among these Team Canada Athletes; whether they currently have access to the resources they need to enhance their wellbeing; and what prevention programs are currently in place that athletes, coaches, and support personnel can access to mitigate their risks. The third aspect presents the findings and offers some analysis and conclusions where it is revealed that there is still work that needs to be done by the IOC and COC in order to meet athletes’ needs. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, inconsistencies emerged between what athletes needed and what they could access. Additionally, the potential risk for disordered eating behaviours within the Olympic community was identified. Athletes in this study identified struggling with their relationship with food as well as their body image and that the pandemic negatively influenced this relationship. This study further showed the similarities between athlete transition periods such as retiring from sport and the athletes’ experiences during the pandemic.

Summary for Lay Audience

Using a critical feminist theory lens, this study is guided by research questions which explore how COVID-19 impacted Canadian Olympic female athletes. It looked at body image dissatisfaction issues in the context of women in sport and whether these Team Canada athletes currently have access to the resources they need to enhance their wellbeing; and what prevention programs are currently in place that athletes, coaches, and support personnel can access. Elite athletes, such as those competing in the Olympics, are highly susceptible to disordered eating behaviours and dissatisfaction with their bodies due to social and environmental influences. COVID-19 placed additional pressure on athletes due to various restrictions placed upon training and competing in sport across the world, thus impacting their ability to train and compete. Athletes are in need of resources that will assist them in uncertain times and in navigating disordered eating risk factors and body dissatisfaction within sport. This study interviewed ten national level athletes (seven females and three males) and three coaches (two females and one male) from a variety of summer and winter sports, to better understand the barriers athletes faced during the pandemic and what resources they would like to have to better overcome the barriers they faced. In addition, a web content analysis was done to examine the availability of body image, disordered eating, and safe sport resources for Canadian Olympic athletes. This study revealed that additional resources need to be developed by the IOC and COC in order to meet athletes’ needs. Athletes identified that as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, they were unable to access the resources they needed. Additionally, disordered eating behaviours within the Olympic community were seen as problematic. Athletes in this study conveyed struggling with their relationship with food as well as their body and that the pandemic negatively influenced this relationship. This study further showed the similarities between athlete transition periods such as retiring from sport and the athletes’ experiences during the pandemic.

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