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Eating disorders and substance use: a dancing vs a nondancing population
C C Holderness1, J Brooks-Gunn, M P Warren
1Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10019.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Dancers at risk for eating disorders did not show the same co-occurring substance use and emotional distress as the general population. This suggests professional pressures create a unique profile for eating disorders in dancers.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- The co-occurrence of eating disorders, substance use, and emotional distress is documented.
- Dancers are considered at higher risk for eating disorders due to professional pressures.
- This study investigates if dancers also exhibit higher risks for co-occurring conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the co-occurrence of eating disorders, substance use, and emotional distress in dancers versus nondancers.
- To determine if dancers face unique psychological profiles related to eating disorders.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving 50 dancers and 56 nondancers.
- Participants completed questionnaires on eating behavior, substance use, and emotional functioning.
- Clinical interviews and physiological data assessed eating disorders (DSM-III-R) and health status.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in disordered eating were found between dancers and nondancers.
- Nondancers showed significant associations between substance use and emotional distress.
- Dancers did not exhibit these same associations, despite similar disordered eating rates.
Conclusions:
- Eating disorders in dancers, influenced by professional pressures, present a distinct psychological profile compared to the general population.
- The typical co-occurrence of substance use and emotional distress with eating disorders may not apply to dancers.
- Further research is needed to understand the unique mental health challenges faced by dancers.