Peculiarities of Sexual Dimorphism and Indices of Gender Identification of Individuality in Female Athletes in Some Team Sports

The aim of the article was to demonstrate the results of a study on the values of the index of sexual dimorphism and indicators of gender identification of personality type that has a number of athletes who are involved in team sports. Materials and methods. The basis of the study was taken to the definition of a number of anthropometric parameters (length and weight, width of shoulders and pelvis), the definition of index of sexual dimorphism. All participants took survey “Masculinity, femininity and gender type personality” (the Russian equivalent of “Bem sex role inventory”). This study was done in 2016. Female students (n=48) of adolescent age were involved in the study. They attended volleyball (n=11), beach volleyball (n=10), basketball (n=12) and handball (n=15). Results and discussion. In the beginning of the investigation index of sexual dimorphism has been identified in each of the athletes who participated in the study. The average age of female athletes was (n=48) 21,34±1,86 years old. Distributing girls one has obtained the following results: the average value of the index of sexual dimorphism (SDI) in the group was 80,34±1,80 (p<0,05). This corresponds to the values of mesomorphic somatotype (73,1-82,1). Only 1 (9,09%) girl of volleyball player defines the criteria of the gynecomorphic somatotype. Three (27,27%) female athletes define the andromorphic sexual somatotype. The remaining 7 (63,64%) of girls referred to gender mesomorphic somatotype. Also 10 athletes were involved in beach volleyball. The study measured (p<0,05) the value of index of sexual dimorphism in all study group – 80,79±1,32 (p <0,05). This corresponds to the values of mesomorphic somatotype (73,1-82,1). Female athletes who deal with basketball (n=12), index of sexual dimorphism demonstrated that the average value in the group was 81,56 ± 1,23 (p <0,05). In the group of students who are engaged in handball (n=15), the value of index of sexual dimorphism in the whole group was 82,04±0,03 (p <0,05). This corresponds to the values of mesomorphic somatotype (73,1-82,1). At the same time it is determined that female athletes of gynecomorphic somatotype in the study group contained 1 (6,67 %) of mesomorphic somatotype included – 6 (40,00%), female athletes of andromorphic somatotype contained 8 (53,33%). In total, among all athletes (n=48), the representatives of sexual andromorphic somatotype revealed 17 (35,42%), mesomorphic somatotype revealed every other athlete, and 24 (50,00%), revealed gynecomorphic somatotype – 7 (14,58%). Together, representatives of andromorphic and mesomorphic somatotypes revealed dominant number such as 28 (85,42%) of all female athletes. Conclusions. During the investigation of index of sexual dimorphism it has been indicated andromorphic and mesomorphic somatotypes number was 28 (85,42%) and it is unfavorable index in somatic alteration of female's organism. During the investigation of index of gender identification it was determined that 18 (37,50%) of women were involved in masculine type and 19 (39,58%) were involved in androgynal one and11 (22,92%) presented feminine type. Prospects for further investigations are concerned with further study of somatic and psychological indices of female athletes.