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Athletics, perfectionism, and disordered eating
1Stanford University Medical Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Paolo Aldo, CA 94305, USA.
Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD
|August 28, 2004
Summary
Perfectionism and being female are significant risk factors for disordered eating attitudes in athletes. Recreational athletes showed higher psychological risk, while varsity athletes experienced more physiological issues.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Psychology
- Eating Disorders
Background:
- Disordered eating is a significant concern in athletes.
- Understanding risk factors like sex, perfectionism, and athletic level is crucial for prevention and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of sex, perfectionism, athletic participation level (varsity vs. recreational), and sport type on disordered eating attitudes among athletes.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 250 swimmers, runners, and soccer players at Stanford University (recreational and varsity levels).
- Participants completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and a demographic survey.
Main Results:
- Significant effects on disordered eating were found for sex, athletic level, and perfectionism.
- Females exhibited higher disordered eating attitudes than males.
- Disordered eating increased with perfectionism and was higher in recreational athletes (significant for females only). Varsity females reported more irregular periods and amenorrhea than recreational females.
Conclusions:
- Perfectionism is a primary risk factor for disordered eating attitudes in females across all athletic divisions.
- While recreational athletes showed greater psychological risk, varsity athletes faced more significant physiological risks related to disordered eating.