Perceiving your athletic body differently: Innovative contribution of virtual reality to an artistic swimming athlete
Percevoir l’image de son corps sportif autrement : apport innovant de la réalité virtuelle chez une sportive en natation artistique
Résumé
Body image (BI) is defined as the mental representation of perceived physical appearance, characterized by thoughts, emotions, sensations, and behaviors associated with the body. To apprehend this complex multidimensional reality, researchers are using the Immersive Continuum Scale of virtual bodies. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the innovative impact of using virtual reality (VR) on the perception of BI in an artistic swimmer. The results highlight body dissatisfaction according to the egocentric and allocentric perspectives, while body distortions are present only in the allocentric perspective. Social norms and sporting expectations exert significant pressure on BI, creating tensions between ideal social appearance and the sport-specific physical requirements. This duality leads to psychological challenges. The study also shows the impact of injuries on body perception, which can lead to psychological alterations and maladaptive eating behaviours. In conclusion, this study suggests that VR could become an essential tool for exploring BI in athletes. However, it highlights the need for further research to generalize the results and deepen understanding of the psychosocial mechanisms underlying this complex dynamic.