Women's body image across resistance training modalities: A multidimensional mixed methods study

Resistance training (RT) is recognized for its psychological benefits, including improvements in body image. However, RT encompasses diverse modalities that vary in emphasis on aesthetics, performance, and health, and little research has examined how these different modalities shape women's body image. This study examined women's body image across four RT modalities: Bodybuilding, CrossFit, Strength Sports, and General Health. A convergent mixed methods design was employed in a sample of 153 women (ages 18-40) who had at least six months of RT experience. Participants completed measures assessing positive (e.g., body appreciation, pride) and negative (e.g., shame, guilt, envy) body image and responded to open-ended questions targeting body image across perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. Quantitative data were analyzed using ANOVAs and Chi-square tests to examine between-group differences, supplemented with pairwise effect size estimates (Cohen's d). Qualitative data were analyzed using a descriptive content approach. While no statistically significant group differences emerged after correcting for multiple comparisons, effect size estimates and group-wise means suggested that Strength Sports participants reported more negative body image experiences than other groups. Qualitative findings revealed that RT can foster functionality appreciation, physical empowerment, and body confidence, while also presenting challenges such as appearance pressures, social comparison, and internalized performance standards. These findings suggest that RT may serve as a context for women's positive body image development, irrespective of modality.