# Psychosocial and Body Image Variations in Professional Dancers: A Prospective Longitudinal Observational Study

## TL;DR

Professional dancers experience increasing stress, anxiety, and body dissatisfaction over a performance season, which may affect their well-being and performance.

## Contribution

This study provides longitudinal evidence of psychosocial and body image changes in professional dancers during a season.

## Key findings

- Negative mood and stress increased significantly over time, while vigor and recovery decreased.
- State anxiety and body dissatisfaction worsened, shifting from no concern to high concern classifications.
- Psychometric trends suggest an imbalance between perceived demands and recovery, not linked to objective workload.

## Abstract

Introduction: Psychosocial functioning and body image are key dimensions of mental well-being and performance. Among professional dancers, competitive environments, aesthetic demands, and physical–emotional overload contribute to increased anxiety, stress, and mood disturbances, potentially impairing performance and heightening injury risk. Objective: To investigate longitudinal variations in psychosocial and emotional indicators among professional dancers throughout a season of rehearsals and performances. Methods: Thirteen dancers (9 women and 4 men) from a professional company were assessed across eight time points using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State), Recovery–Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (REST-Q 76 Sport), and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Data was analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Negative mood dimensions progressively increased (p < 0.01; η2p = 0.46, large), while vigor decreased (p = 0.03; η2p = 0.29, medium), indicating an inversion of the typical “iceberg” profile. Overall stress levels increased (p = 0.02; g = 0.53, power = 0.81) and perceived recovery declined (p = 0.04; g = 0.41, power = 0.78). State anxiety rose consistently (p < 0.01; η2p = 0.42), and body dissatisfaction, assessed via the BSQ, increased from “no concern” to “high concern” classifications (p = 0.03; g = 0.59, power = 0.84). Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicating a longitudinal pattern of increased psychometric strain indicators, inferred exclusively from psychometric trends, and conceptually consistent with a possible imbalance between perceived demands and perceived recovery, rather than reflecting objectively measured workload or recovery processes.