Eating Disorders in Taekwondo Athletes: The Contribution of Coach Behavior, Body Satisfaction, and Goal Orientation

Taekwondo is a weight-classified combat sport. Taekwondo athletes often resort to restrictive eating behaviors and weight reduction, especially just before competitions, which, in the long run, endanger their physical and mental health. This study aimed to determine the incidence of eating disorder (ED) symptoms regarding sex, age, and competitive level categories and examine the correlation and contribution of coach behavior, body satisfaction, and goal orientation to the development of ED symptoms in different subgroups. A total of 335 active Croatian taekwondo athletes, with a mean age of 14.7 years, among whom were 132 males and 203 females (range 10-26 yrs, SD = 3.06), completed the Croatian version of the Eating Attitude Test, Figure Rating Scale, Croatian Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, Negative Coach Behavior Questionnaire, and a questionnaire related to taekwondo practice. The results showed that ED symptoms were more present in female than male athletes (p < 0.001), while there was no statistically significant difference among the age and competitive level categories between elite and non-elite athletes. The risk of ED was significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with taekwondo athletes' body dissatisfaction, coach pressure, and task goal orientation. In general, regression analyses showed that athletes' body image dissatisfaction (β = 0.310; p < 0.001), coach pressure on diet and weight (β = 0.156; p < 0.005), and athletes' task goal orientation (β = 0.120; p < 0.032) are statistically significant predictors that explain the variance in ED symptoms in Croatian taekwondo athletes. The culture of taekwondo sports represents a risk factor for ED development.