A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PATHOGENIC EATING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS AMONG FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETES

Abstract

1024 The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of risk for the development of eating disorders and factors predictive of risk among female college athletes currently active in a varsity sport a large Division I university. Athletes were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the freshman year. Questionnaires were completed by 33 females at baseline and 27 females at follow-up. Mean Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) subscale scores were at or above the 60th percentile rank according to normative data reported for comparably aged nonpatient female college students. Analyses of the differences between subscale scores at baseline and at follow-up revealed that scores were relatively unchanged. These data appear to reflect that participation in collegiate athletics does not increase the athlete's risk for the development of eating disorders at least within the first year of participation. However, these freshman females began the collegiate athletic experience with a level of risk above that which would be expected for nonathlete freshman females. A model was developed to predict EDI subscale scores using various risk factors identified in the literature. Risk factors included dieting, perceived stress, feelings about one's body, relationship with coach, coach encouraging and/or supervising dieting, increase in training volume, and training outside of formal practice. The proportion of variance explained by the model ranged from 11% to 77% (adjusted R Square). Factors associated with EDI subscale scores suggest that certain aspects of the athletic experience are predictive of at least sustaining an existing level of risk for the development of eating disorders. As this is the first phase of a longitudinal study, these athletes will be followed as they progress through college beyond the first year to explore more fully the impact of collegiate athletics on the development of eating disorders.