News
Wednesday 2 May 2007
Body study scoops top thesis award
A study into how we feel when people evaluate our bodies has earned a Nottingham Trent University graduate a top UK award. Martin Dixon has won the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Honorary Fellows Undergraduate Dissertation of the Year Award.
Martin won the award for the quality of his final-year dissertation on the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science course. The project was based on Social Physique Anxiety (SPA) – how people feel when others evaluate their body and consequently make judgements. The aim was to see if SPA was related to exercise behaviour among young adults.
Martin, who was based in the University’s School of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, said: “I found that social physique anxiety did not influence the amount of exercise performed. However, what came out of the study was that SPA did affect the exercise settings of female participants. For example, females with high SPA tended to avoid team and individual sports, and were more likely to exercise alone. In contrast, SPA did not influence the exercise behaviour of males.”
The research also suggested that health clubs and gyms could provide areas that were secluded, or without mirrors, as well as ensuring equipment was positioned so individuals were not on display.
Martin’s dissertation was marked by Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology, Dr Graham Sharpe, and Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Dr Toni Minniti, who suggested he apply for the BASES award.
Martin said: “I had to condense my original dissertation to 1,500 words which was very difficult. When BASES told me I had won the award from such a high standard of entries I was delighted that my hard work had paid off.”
Dr Claire Hitchings, BASES Executive Officer, said: “BASES sees this as an extremely prestigious award, acknowledging the excellent scientific work that undergraduate students produce.”
Martin is currently living in Derby where he is working as a soccer coach for school pupils in the area.
ENDS
Notes for editors: BASES is the UK professional body for all those with an interest in the science of sport and exercise. For more information visit their website.
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