Chelsi Ricketts says her interest in body image research stems from personal experiences. Her father was a competitive bodybuilder, she participated in track, and her brother is currently a collegiate athlete.
“Growing up, I was fascinated by my father's drive and discipline in the pursuit of muscularity and my brother's effortless prowess in the triple jump,” she says. “These experiences made me more aware of the incredible functions one's body can perform when engaged in sport and physical activity, increasing the likelihood of developing a positive body image.
“Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to appreciate their body's potential in such settings.”
Ricketts dropped out of sport in high school due to body image concerns. Now, as a researcher, her agenda is to promote inclusive and welcoming sport and physical activity environments for all, regardless of body shape, size or weight.
Selected for the 2024 Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the University of Toronto, Ricketts will be working with Professor Catherine Sabiston in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) to document and describe how sex and gender intersect with body size, shape and weight diversity to influence sport participation among Canadian girls.
This qualitative research will inform the initial phase of a quantitative Delphi study to identify key research priorities for understanding and addressing body shape and weight diversity in Canadian youth sports. The findings will also be integrated with data from a larger SSHRC grant to explain how intersecting identities impact sport participation.
“I am thrilled to join U of T's dynamic research community, grow my scholarly profile and foster meaningful connections,” says Ricketts, who says she was drawn to this project because it aligns with her goal and provides a platform to work toward it.
“I was also drawn to this project because of the critical lens through which it will examine and address these issues,” she says. “I am passionate about work that amplifies the voices of underrepresented groups, promotes equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and challenges inequities.
“This is especially significant to me as a woman of Afro-Caribbean descent, a group historically underrepresented in scholarly discourse.”
For her PhD dissertation in the department of kinesiology at the Michigan State University, Ricketts examined the role of positive body image in the sport confidence and performance of Jamaican and Botswana athletes. The project aimed to understand the adaptive aspects of athlete body image and their implications for positive sport experiences and outcomes. Additionally, it sought to foster interconnectedness between two understudied populations to offer transferable insights for promoting positive outcomes and experiences.
“A key takeaway was the potential to enhance sport confidence and performance among Jamaican and Botswanan athletes by fostering appreciation for their body's form and functionality,” says Ricketts. “When athletes value their bodies and their capabilities, they can approach their sport with greater confidence, leading to improved performance.”
Ricketts says she’s long been impressed by the research produced in Sabiston’s Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre (MPARC) and is excited to continue to build her own research expertise within the lab.
“I applied for the post-doc position with Professor Sabiston due to her renowned expertise in the field,” says Ricketts. “Working with her offers unparalleled training opportunities and I look forward to immersing myself in a field of research that I am deeply passionate about.”
Even before applying for the Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, Ricketts was a frequent guest of Sabiston, who invited her to lab meetings.
“Chelsi presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) annual conference earlier this month and after her presentation I had many people come up to me and suggest I approach her for a post-doctoral fellowship,” says Sabiston, who is Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Mental Health. “I made a lot of sport and exercise psychology colleagues happy when I acknowledged we have already connected.
“Chelsi’s experience in global research specific to body image and sport performance and participation, and her expertise in cross-cultural research and partnerships will be valuable for helping me lead specific research aims within the SSHRC Partnership Grant-funded Rethink Sport Project.”
As for Ricketts, she says she is grateful to Sabiston and KPE for supporting her post-doctoral application, and looks forward to the impactful work and enriching experiences that lie ahead.
“Collaborating with scholars who share my research interests is invigorating, and there is no better city for this experience than Toronto,” says Ricketts, who visited the city for the first time last summer.
“As a Jamaican, I find comfort in the fact that in Toronto, I will have opportunities to connect with other Jamaican communities and enjoy authentic Jamaican music and cuisine.”