Short answer

Designers must move beyond purely functional or aesthetic considerations and integrate psychological support and healthy lifestyle promotion into their design solutions for individuals in high-pressure aesthetic fields.

Field: Human Factors
Source: BMC Women s Health (2022)
Method: Comparative cross-sectional study
Sample: 41 participants (11 in control, 11 in models, 11 in ballet dancers, 8 in athletes)
Evidence: Strong effect (on mental health and body composition)

Young individuals in professions with stringent aesthetic demands, such as modeling and ballet, may exhibit preserved physical fitness but show significant impairments in mental health and body composition. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in BMC Women s Health. Using Comparative cross-sectional study with 41 participants (11 in control, 11 in models, 11 in ballet dancers, 8 in athletes), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers must move beyond purely functional or aesthetic considerations and integrate psychological support and healthy lifestyle promotion into their design solutions for individuals in high-pressure aesthetic fields.

Study

Human FactorsHigh ImpactStrong effect (on mental health and body composition)

Aesthetic Professions May Compromise Mental Health and Body Composition Despite Maintaining Physical Fitness

BMC Women s Health · 2022

Key Findings

01Physical fitness and cardiometabolic health markers were generally within normal ranges across all groups.
02100% of participants in the aesthetic professions reported depressive symptoms.
0363% of participants in the aesthetic professions exhibited issues with body mass density (BMD).

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing uniforms, training equipment, or digital platforms for dancers, models, or athletes, consider features that promote positive self-talk, provide access to mental health resources, and avoid reinforcing unhealthy body ideals.

Project actions

01Consider the psychological impact of your design choices on users.
02Research the lifestyle and pressures faced by your target user group.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate the differences in physical fitness, cardiometabolic health markers, mental health, and dietary habits among young females in aesthetic professions (models, ballet dancers, athletes) compared to a control group.

MethodComparative cross-sectional study

ProcedureParticipants from four groups (university students, models, ballet dancers, athletes) aged 14-24 were assessed for physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, strength, endurance, body composition), cardiometabolic markers (lipids, glucose, CRP), diet quality, and mental health.

Sample41 participants (11 in control, 11 in models, 11 in ballet dancers, 8 in athletes)

ContextAesthetic professions (modeling, ballet, athletics) and general university student population.

Variables

IV["Profession type (control, model, ballet dancer, athlete)"]

DV["Physical fitness levels","Cardiometabolic health markers","Mental health status (depressive symptoms)","Body composition"]

CV["Age range (14-24 years)","Gender (female)"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Investigated multiple health and fitness domains.
+Included a control group for comparison.

Limitations

The study sample was specific to young females and may not generalize to other age groups or genders. The definition of 'normal' for some health markers might be debated.

Reliability & validity

The study used standardized assessments for physical fitness and biochemical markers, contributing to reliability. However, self-reported mental health and diet quality can be subject to recall bias, potentially affecting validity.

Think critically

How might design interventions mitigate the negative mental health and body composition outcomes observed in aesthetic professions, while still respecting the demands of these fields?

Design Principles

"Design for holistic well-being, acknowledging the interplay between physical, mental, and social factors."

Designers creating products, environments, or services for individuals in these fields must consider the psychological and physiological pressures they face. Ignoring these factors can lead to designs that inadvertently exacerbate stress or contribute to unhealthy body image perceptions.

What This Means for Your Design

Even if young people in jobs like modeling or ballet are physically fit, they might be struggling with their mental health and body image.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to justify the need for user-centered design that addresses psychological factors.
2.Cite this study when discussing the importance of considering mental health in design for specific user groups.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research indicates that professions demanding strict aesthetic standards can negatively impact users' mental health and body composition, even when physical fitness is maintained. This underscores the importance of designing not only for function but also for psychological well-being and positive self-perception within specific user groups.

Source

BMC Women s Health

Cardiometabolic health profile of young girls with aesthetic professions

journal · 2022

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about aesthetic professions may compromise mental health and body composition despite maintaining physical fitness?: Designers must move beyond purely functional or aesthetic considerations and integrate psychological support and healthy lifestyle promotion into their design solutions for individuals in high-pressure aesthetic fields. Evidence: BMC Women s Health (2022).
Why does "Aesthetic Professions May Compromise Mental Health and Body Composition Despite Maintaining Physical Fitness" matter for design?: Designers creating products, environments, or services for individuals in these fields must consider the psychological and physiological pressures they face. Ignoring these factors can lead to designs that inadvertently exacerbate stress or contribute to unhealthy body image perceptions.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers must move beyond purely functional or aesthetic considerations and integrate psychological support and healthy lifestyle promotion into their design solutions for individuals in high-pressure aesthetic fields.
What were the main findings?: Physical fitness and cardiometabolic health markers were generally within normal ranges across all groups.. 100% of participants in the aesthetic professions reported depressive symptoms.. 63% of participants in the aesthetic professions exhibited issues with body mass density (BMD).
What research method was used?: Comparative cross-sectional study with 41 participants (11 in control, 11 in models, 11 in ballet dancers, 8 in athletes).
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect (on mental health and body composition), based on a 2022 journal from BMC Women s Health.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing uniforms, training equipment, or digital platforms for dancers, models, or athletes, consider features that promote positive self-talk, provide access to mental health resources, and avoid reinforcing unhealthy body ideals.
What are the limitations?: The study's cross-sectional nature limits causal inferences. The specific definition of 'aesthetic professions' might not encompass all relevant fields. The sample size for athletes was smaller than other groups.