Lately, the jazz dance has been popular in our society, riding on the world-wide wave of well-being. The jazz dance free, modern and popular attracts people's attention because it is an aerobic exercise consuming much energy.
The purpose of this stud...
Lately, the jazz dance has been popular in our society, riding on the world-wide wave of well-being. The jazz dance free, modern and popular attracts people's attention because it is an aerobic exercise consuming much energy.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of engagement and flow in jazz dance on body image and self-esteem. For this purpose, the researcher sampled 362 members (71 men and 291 women) of 12 jazz dance centers in Seoul for a questionnaire survey.
In order to measure subjects' self-esteem of their bodies, the researcher modified Mendelson & White's (1982) 5-point "body esteem scale" by excluding the items used in Jo Ji-sook's (1982) research. And in order to measure subjects' immersion in jazz dance, the researcher modified the ECSM (Extension of the Sports Commitment Model) developed by Scanlan, et al., (1993) and translated by Jeong Yong-gak (1997). Furthermore, in order to measure subjects' self-esteem, the researcher used Rosenberg's (1965) 'self-esteem scales' translated and standardized by Kim Young-ho (1998). The data collected were processed using the statistical programs SPSS Windows 12.0 and AMOS 5.0 for descriptive statistics, analysis of items, exploratory factor analysis, chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, correlation coefficients, multiple regression analysis and structured equation model analysis. The results of this study can be summarized as follows;
First, subjects' engagement and flow in jazz dance as well as their body image and self-esteem differed significantly depending on their demographic variables (gender and age). And it was found that subjects' frequency and hours spent for jazz dance differed significantly depending on gender and age. Differences of flow in jazz dance were significant depending on gender and age, and subjects' body image differed significantly depending on gender. Subjects' image of their look differed significantly depending on age. In contrast, health condition, physical activities, muscular strength and flexibility did not differ significantly among groups, and subjects' self-esteem did not differ significantly depending on gender and age.
Second, it was found that the hours spent for jazz dance had the effects on body image and self-esteem, particularly image of look and overall body image. And frequency and hours spent for jazz dance had the effects on physical energy and muscular strength. Frequency and flow affected physical flexibility. In common, hours spent for jazz dance influenced sub-factors of body image and overall body image. However, frequency and flow were negatively correlated with sub-factors of body image and overall body image. On the other hand, hours spent for jazz dance affected self-esteem.
Third, subjects' behavioral flow in jazz dance affected their image of look, physical energy, muscular strength, flexibility and overall body image, and their cognitive and behavioral flow in jazz dance influenced their perception of health. On the other hand, subjects' self-esteem was affected by cognitive flow.
Fourth, as a result of analyzing the correlations between body image and self-esteem, the two variables were found to be correlated with each other. Particularly, subjects' image of look was correlated highest with their self-esteem. Physical energy was highly correlated with muscular strength.
Fifth, flow in jazz dance was correlated with sub-factors of body image as well as those of self-esteem. In overall terms, correlation between flow and body image was higher than that between flow and self-esteem. Namely, hours spent for and flow in jazz dance affected body image and self-esteem. As a result of analyzing the cause-effect model, the factor affecting self-esteem was body image (.49). Although the effect of body image was not significant statistically, it was higher than that of flow(.36). All in all, body image was found the most important parameter of self-esteem.
This study which analyzed the effects of jazz dancers' needs and flow on their body image and self-esteem is deemed significant in that it provided for some theoretical ground for enhancement of the jazz dance classrooms.