Adolescent female leisure participation and body image: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the Degree of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (Honours) at Lincoln University

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to discover whether there was an association between adolescent female body image and leisure participation. Secondary aims were to discover the leisure activities in which New Zealand adolescent females participated and how adolescent females feel about their bodies. Data were obtained from two hundred and sixty female fifth form high school students using a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Ben- Tovim Walker Body Attitude Questionnaire (BAQ). The results suggested that adolescent females participated frequently in passive leisure activities and less frequently in active leisure. However, active l~ tS;ure gnd team sports were the favourite leisure activities. The results also suggested that adolescent females generally felt positive about their bodies. Negative body attitudes tended to focus on lower body fatness and feelings of fatness. Finally, it appeared that body image and leisure participation were not associated. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed.