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The impact of consultant physical characteristics on the perceived effectiveness of the psychologist working with sports performers
Abstract   Peer reviewed

The impact of consultant physical characteristics on the perceived effectiveness of the psychologist working with sports performers

S Cotterill, J K Parker, Geoff Lovell and A Brady
2008 British Psychology Society Annual Conference Book of Abstracts, p.221
British Psychology Society Annual Conference, 2008 (Dublin, Ireland, 02-Apr-2008–04-Apr-2008)
2008
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Abstract

Psychology Human Movement and Sports Science sports psychologist
The aim of this study was to explore whether physical characteristics of sports psychologists, specifically body mass index (BMI) and type of dress, influences potential clients' preference to work with them and perceptions of their effectiveness. Counsellors' physical characteristics, such as obesity and demographic similarity with client, have been shown to influence patients' perceptions of their counsellor's effectiveness which potentially mediate the efficacy of subsequent interventions (Hash et al., 2003). To date, no research has explored this phenomenon in sport-related performance settings. As a result this study sought to provide a preliminary insight into this interaction in sports-related environments. Seventy six volunteers (Male, N=37, Age mean=19.5, s =1.4 years; Female, N=39, Age mean=21.00, s=5.4) viewed four concurrently presented computer generated images of the same female sports psychologist dressed in sports clothing manipulated to represent a range of BMI's (23, 28, 33, and 38kg/m2) typifying four World Health Organisation classifications of obesity (normal, pre-obese, obese class I, and obese class II). Participants were then asked to rank the sports psychologists in order of their preference to work with them, and secondly, to rate their perceived effectiveness of each of the sports psychologists on a seven-point Likert scale. The second slide concurrently presented two images of the pre-obese sports psychologist; one dressed formally, the other in sports attire. Participants were again asked to rank and rate the sports psychologists in terms of preference and perceived effectiveness. Results demonstrated that participants' ranking of preference and rating of perceived effectiveness of the normal range and pre-obese sports psychologists were significantly higher than the class I and II obese sports psychologists. Participants also ranked and rated the sportily dressed sports psychologist significantly higher than the formally dressed sports psychologist Results show that sports psychologists' physical characteristics do influence potential clients' preference to work with them and perceptions of their effectiveness. These findings suggest that sports psychologists should consider their physical appearance when meeting with sports performers. This relationship is likely to be complex, with further factors such as sport, level of expertise and past experiences requiring further investigation. [Poster Presentation]

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