Psychological characteristics associated with disordered eating in university athletes

Abstract

Disordered eating (DE) corresponds to the presence of fasting, food restriction, skipping meals or consuming appetite suppressants, excessive physical exercise, image distortion, dissatisfaction with body weight and shape, fear of weight gain, and desire for thinness. University student athletes are particularly at risk of developing DE because they must adapt simultaneously to the demands of adult life, university life, and competitive high‐level sports. This study aimed to identify which psychological characteristics are most strongly associated with the presence of DE among university student athletes. In September 2018, 95 female participants completed an online survey composed of several questionnaires evaluating DE, psychological characteristics, and sociodemographic information. DE affected 21.1% of the sample. Among the psychological variables evaluated, overcontrol and perceived media pressure were the most strongly associated with the presence of DE. The more university students presented overcontrol and perceived media pressure, the more likely they were to present DE. In sports medicine, it is essential that professionals evaluate psychological vulnerabilities of university student athletes and offer them support in this regard.

Extreme weight control behaviors among adolescent athletes: Links with weight-related maltreatment from parents and coaches and sport ethic norms

“…Moreover, athletes showing more evidence of over-control were found to be more at risk of presenting disordered eating in previous studies (e.g. Labossière and Thibault, 2020). To this end, it makes sense that EWCB require self-sacrifice, in that these extreme behaviors (e.g.…”

The prevalence of orthorexia in exercising populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Of the 24 included studies, publication years ranged from 2012 [ 70 , 71 ] to 2021 [ 69 , 72 ]. Studies were conducted in Portugal ( k = 4: [ 34 , 68 , 73 , 74 ]), Italy ( k = 3: [ 33 , 75 , 76 ]), the US ( k = 3: [ 17 , 69 , 70 ]), Brazil (k = 2: [ 72 , 77 ]), Turkey (k = 2: [ 78 , 79 ]), Poland (k = 2: [ 16 , 80 ]), and one study each from the UK [ 4 ], Germany [ 81 ], Sweden [ 82 ], Denmark [ 71 ], Hungary [ 83 ], Lebanon [ 84 ], Spain [ 85 ], and Canada [ 86 ].…”

“…Samples were mostly recruited from fitness gyms, sports universities, or specific groups of athletes (k = 17: [ 4 , 16 , 33 , 34 , 69 – 74 , 76 – 79 , 81 , 85 , 86 ]). For six studies the sample was recruited from regular universities (students) [ 17 , 68 , 75 , 80 , 82 , 84 ], and one study was based on a general population sample [ 83 ].…”

Symptoms of mental illness among university student-athletes during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Canada

“…Furthermore, disordered eating may be better explained by individual (internal) variables, such as psychological characteristics vs. environment variables (external), such as common stressors experienced by university student-athletes. For example, over-control (perfectionism and asceticism) and media pressure to be thin (e.g., “I've felt pressure from TV or magazines to have a perfect body”) are two elements known to statistically predispose Quebec university student-athletes to disordered eating ( 39 ). During the pandemic, time spent on social media increased among young adults and may explain an increase in disordered eating ( 77 ).…”

“…While in the United States it is possible to receive athletic scholarships that cover all costs (housing, food, tuition, textbook costs, weekly allowance), student-athletes at Canadian universities can only rely on scholarships that fully or partially cover their tuition ( 37 , 38 ). Moreover, in the province of Quebec (Canada), 49.5% of university athletes are gainfully employed ( 39 ), as they cannot count on the same financial support as in the United States. Also, Canadian university student-athletes generally play in front of much smaller crowds than their American counterparts, their competitions are rarely televised, and media attention is less common than in the United States ( 40 ).…”