Perceived Coach and Teammate Weight/Shape-Related Beliefs and Disordered Eating in NCAA Swimmers

The distinct associations of coaches' and teammates' beliefs about ideal body weight/shape with athletes' disordered eating remain unclear. This study examined how athletes' perceptions of their coaches' and teammates' weight- and shape-related beliefs were associated with eating disorder symptoms and body dissatisfaction among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) swimmers. We hypothesized that both perceived coaches' and teammates' beliefs would be significantly associated with eating disorder symptoms and body dissatisfaction.

Participants were 190 in-season NCAA swimmers (81% female) who completed a newly developed brief questionnaire designed to assess perceived coach and teammate weight/shape-related beliefs (Coach and Teammate Weight/Shape Beliefs Questionnaire; CTWSBQ), as well as scales assessing eating disorder symptoms (Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, EDE-Q) and thinness- and muscularity-related body dissatisfaction (ATHLETE Questionnaire Your Body and Sports subscale and Drive for Muscularity Scale, respectively). Multiple linear regression was used to model disordered eating as a function of CTWSBQ Teammate and Coach scores and covariates.

Only the CTWSBQ Teammate score was significantly associated with EDE-Q Global (ΔR² = 0.04) and ATHLETE (ΔR² = 0.04) scores after adjustment for both demographic and psychological covariates. CTWSBQ Coach, but not Teammate, scores were significantly associated with Drive for Muscularity scores (ΔR² = 0.02) after adjustment for covariates.

Findings from this cross-sectional study suggest distinct patterns of association for perceived teammate versus coach weight/shape-related beliefs across eating disorder symptoms, thinness-related concerns, and muscularity-related concerns in NCAA swimmers. Future work should test these patterns prospectively and determine whether they can inform prevention and education content for athletes and coaches.