Investigation of Questionnaire Items to Evaluate Potential Abnormal Eating Behaviors in Female Athletes: Based on a Study of Female Athletes with Subjective Awareness of Abnormal Eating Behaviors

Abstract

Eating disorders are serious life-threatening illnesses, and the risk of onset is particularly high in female athletes. Eating disorders tend to be caused by continuous abnormal eating behaviors; thus, early detection is important. This study aimed to develop items for screening female athletes with abnormal eating behaviors, which are precursors for eating disorders. A total of 239 female athletes were surveyed to determine whether they had experienced 69 pre-selected items evaluated for content validity related to behaviors and thought patterns in those with abnormal eating behaviors. The targets were classified into those “aware of having abnormal eating behaviors” placed in the disordered eating (DE) group and those “not aware of having an eating disorder” placed in the non-DE group. The differences between the groups in each item were compared using an independence test, and the criterion for the evaluation of abnormal eating behavior was set to 75%. In this study, the significance level for statistical hypothesis testing was 5%, and it was controlled using the Bonfferoni method. In addition, the association coefficient among the selected items was calculated and, if significant and ≥0.5, the integration of the items was evaluated. As a result of the analysis, 44 items were found to be statistically significant. Of these, 19 items were rated as “experienced” by at least 75% of those in the DE group. The calculation results of the association coefficient among the above items led to a decision that 8 items could be integrated into 4 items. Ultimately, 15 items pertaining to eating behaviors, weight, and self-evaluation/evaluation by others were considered potentially useful for easily identifying female athletes with abnormal eating behaviors.