Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:26
Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
Disordered Eating and Exercise Addiction Among Former Student-Athletes: Contribution of Athletic Experience and
Juliette Maurin1, Véronique Boudreault2, Olivier Laverdière1
1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.
Nutrients
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Former varsity student-athletes show higher exercise addiction symptoms and differing disordered eating (DE) associations with perfectionism compared to non-athletes. Interventions should address perfectionism to mitigate risks during and after sport careers.
Area of Science:
- Sports Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Eating Disorders Research
Background:
- Sport retirement necessitates significant adjustments for varsity student-athletes, impacting identity and body image.
- These transitions can increase vulnerability to disordered eating (DE) and exercise addiction.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare DE and exercise addiction symptoms between former student-athletes and non-athletes.
- Examine how personality traits, specifically perfectionism, relate to these symptoms across groups.
Main Methods:
- Online questionnaire administered to 88 former varsity student-athletes and 69 former non-athlete students.
- Data collected between January and September 2025.
Main Results:
- Former student-athletes reported more exercise addiction symptoms (p=0.025).
- Perfectionism significantly associated with all DE and exercise addiction variables.
- Interactions showed perfectionism's link to DE (thinness/muscularity) was significant in controls, not former athletes.
Conclusions:
- Highlights the need for early detection and prevention of exercise addiction and DE in athletes, both during and post-career.
- Suggests interventions targeting perfectionism, body acceptance, and value clarification for student-athletes.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
01:18Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...
01:24Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive
Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...