The Relationship Between the Female Athlete Triad and Dependence on Sports Coaches and Stress Responses

Abstract

Female athletes are susceptible to low energy levels, hypothalamic amenorrhea, osteoporosis, and a constellation of clinical conditions, which the American College of Sports Medicine defined as the female athlete triad (FAT). This study examined whether there is a difference in dependence on sport coaches, abnormal eating behavior, and athletes’ stress responses related to subjective symptoms of FAT and explored the effects of dependence on sport coaches and abnormal eating behavior on athletes’ stress response. The participants included 300 Japanese female athletes who completed a set of questionnaires on demographic variables, questions about FAT, the new version of the abnormal eating behavior scale, a dependence questionnaire, and the stress response scale for athletes. The results of a t-test revealed that helplessness, depression, all subscales of abnormal eating behavior, and all subscales of dependence on sport coaches were more prominent among the FAT group than non-FAT group. In addition, the results of multiple regression analysis highlighted that while inappropriate diet behavior was positively associated with helplessness, apprehension concerning to food intake was positively associated with physical fatigue, irritation and anger, distrust of people, and depression. Furthermore, binge eating was associated with helplessness and irritation and anger. Physical proximity was negatively associated with physical fatigue, and attention was positively associated with irritation and anger, and help was associated with irritation and anger and distrust of people. Thus, abnormal eating behaviors and dependence on sports coaches may exacerbate FAT symptoms and should be connected to consider ways to reduce the risk of FAT.