INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY COMPOSITION, PERCEIVED STRESS, AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN MARCHING BAND MEMBERS

Authors

Lauren K. Smith, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Ian Macali, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
JohnEric Smith, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Elva Kaye Lance, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Craig Aarhus, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Cliff Taylor, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Jason Baker, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Sarah Salisbury, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Megan E. Holmes, Mississippi State UniversityFollow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Collegiate marching bands involve a diverse and distinct subpopulation of college-aged individuals. This group is often overlooked in health research, apart from contributions of marching band activities on physical activity levels (Sharp et al., 2007; Cowen, 2006). As important mental and physical health indicators, additional investigation is needed to explore the associations between body composition, stress, and life satisfaction in marching band participants. This study examined the association between adiposity and psychosocial well-being in marching band members. METHODS: Anthropometry (height, weight, waist circumference (WC)) was assessed according to standard procedures. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) determined body composition. Two measures of psychosocial well-being were assessed: Satisfaction with Life Survey (SWLS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Correlation analyses were used to examine the relationships between all variables, while multiple regression analysis was used to consider the influence of body composition and stress (PSS) on SWLS. RESULTS: 27 participants, consisting of 17 females and 10 males, with an average age of 20[JS1] .0±1.4, were included in the study (color guard, drumline, and other marching band members). Average body weight was 76.5±18.6 kg, body mass index was 26.5±6.0 kg/m2, and mean body fat % was 31.6±12.0. The average SWLS score was 26.4±4.2, and PSS was 22.8±4.87. PSS and SWLS were inversely associated (r= -0.61, p<0.05) but not associated with body fat. SWLS was also inversely associated with BMI (r= -0.44 and -0.48, respectively, p<0.05). Regression analyses showed that PSS significantly predicts SWLS (β= -0.54, p<0.05). This relationship remained unchanged when considering body fat percentage as an additional predictor. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the influence of body composition and stress on marching band members' psychosocial health. A significant correlation was observed between the perceived stress levels of marching band members and their overall life satisfaction. Body composition did not change this relationship. Further research is required to better understand this relationship and its potential impact on stress screenings and interventions in the future.

Recommended Citation

Smith, Lauren K.; Macali, Ian; Smith, JohnEric; Lance, Elva Kaye; Aarhus, Craig; Taylor, Cliff; Baker, Jason; Salisbury, Sarah; and Holmes, Megan E. (2024) "INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY COMPOSITION, PERCEIVED STRESS, AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN MARCHING BAND MEMBERS," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 16: Iss. 3, Article 261.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol16/iss3/261