Abstract
This paper explores the importance of communication on body image issues between coaches and high school female athletes. The purpose of this study is to better understand how coaches’ communication on body image issues effect high school female athletes. This research focused on two high schools in southwest Wisconsin. The research design was a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collected through a survey. The data from the study focused on the high school female athletes’ responses to the “Fat Talk Questionnaire” and their perspective on four multiple choice questions. The four multiple choice questions included a demographic question about sports played, how coaches promote healthy lifestyles, factors to open communication between coach and player about body image, and the influence coaches had on players feelings about their body image. The study examined and identified if there were correlations between the data and previous literature. The results displayed correlation with previous works in media’s impact on body image issues in young women, high participation in fat talk, coaches’ perspective, and coaches’ communication on body comparisons. There was little correlation with past literature of coaches’ influence on the student-athletes body image. This research concluded that coaches’ communication and relationship with female athletes had an impact on their experiences in high school athletics.
Date Capstone Completed
8-2021
Document Type
Capstone Paper
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Leadership Education: Sport Management
Department
Leadership Education
Advisor
Steven Baule
Location
Winona, Minnesota
Recommended Citation
Kraemer, Michelle, "Importance of Coaches' Communication: A Pathway to Understanding the Effect on High School Female Athletes and Body Image" (2021). Leadership Education Capstones. 61.
https://openriver.winona.edu/leadershipeducationcapstones/61
