Coping with social physique anxiety among adolescent female athletes

This study explored how adolescent female athletes cope with social physique anxiety (SPA). Participants, 73 female athletes age 13-19 years, reported their state SPA, coping strategies, coping function, and perceived coping effectiveness for a self-identified situation within sport in which they experienced SPA. Trait SPA was also assessed. Participants reported 129 coping strategies (1-4 strategies per participant). Strategies were coded into 13 categories based on Kowalski and colleagues' (2006) taxonomy of coping with body-related issues. Social support, behavioral avoidance, short-term appearance management, humor, cognitive avoidance, and acceptance were the most commonly reported strategies. Number of coping strategies was associated with state SPA (r = .34, p < .05). Trait SPA was related to avoidance coping function (r = .21, p < .05). Results demonstrated that coping strategies were used for multiple functions, and coping functions had distinct associations with short-term, long-term, and health related effectiveness.