Psychological and Social Factors Influencing Eating Behaviors in College Athletes

Authors

    Sefa Bulut Department of Counseling Psychology & Head of the Counseling Center, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Turkey
    Mehdi Rostami Department of Psychology and Counseling, KMAN Research Institute, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada | Rehabilitation Department, York Rehab Clinic, Toronto, Canada
    Jamel Hajji Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Tunisia
    Sergii Boltivets Chief Researcher of the Department of Scientific Support of Social Formation of Youth. Mykhailo Drahomanov University,
    Nadereh Saadati Department of Psychology and Counseling, KMAN Research Institute, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada | Rehabilitation Department, York Rehab Clinic, Toronto, Canada
    Jiantang Yang Coventry University London–University House, UK | Department of Psychology and Counseling, KMAN Research Institute, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
    Maura McDonnell Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota,Minneapolis, MN, USA
    Chidinma Chikwe Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Canada
    Erwin A. William * Department of Counseling and Psychology, University of the Philippines Manila, USA erwin.william@up.edu.ph
https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.hn.2.1.11

Keywords:

College athletes, Eating behaviors, Psychological factors, Social influences, Nutritional knowledge, Qualitative research

Abstract

Eating behaviors among college athletes are influenced by a complex interplay of psychological, social, and nutritional factors, which can significantly impact their health and performance. This study aims to elucidate these multifaceted influences, providing a deeper understanding of the factors that shape eating behaviors in collegiate sports environments. This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 30 collegiate athletes from various sports disciplines across several universities. Theoretical saturation guided the data collection process until no new themes emerged. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using NVivo software to conduct thematic analysis, focusing on identifying patterns related to psychological drivers, social influences, and nutritional knowledge. Three main themes were identified: Psychological Drivers, Social Influences, and Nutritional Knowledge. Psychological Drivers included Emotional Eating, Dietary Attitudes, and Motivation to Eat Well. Social Influences encompassed Peer Dynamics, Family Influence, Coaching Guidance, and Social Media Impact. Nutritional Knowledge was characterized by Understanding of Nutrition, Sources of Information, and Dietary Planning. Each theme and its categories were supported by specific concepts illustrating the complex and interconnected factors influencing athletes' eating behaviors. The study highlighted the significant role of psychological and social factors alongside nutritional knowledge in shaping the eating behaviors of college athletes. Interventions aimed at improving athletes' eating behaviors should consider these dimensions to effectively support athletes in managing their dietary habits in a way that promotes both optimal performance and general well-being.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Silva L, Gomes AR, Martins C. Psychological Factors

Related to Eating Disordered Behaviors: A Study With Portuguese

Athletes. The Spanish Journal of Psychology. 2011.

2. Sundgot‐Borgen J, Torstveit MK. Aspects of Disordered

Eating Continuum in Elite High‐intensity Sports. Scandinavian

Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. 2010.

3. Jiang S, Ramôa C. The Prevalence of Eating Disorders in

Female Aesthetic Athletes. Journal of Student Research. 2022.

4. Scott CL, Haycraft E, Plateau CR. Teammate Influences

and Relationship Quality Are Associated With Eating and Exercise

Psychopathology in Athletes. Appetite. 2019.

5. Scott CL, Haycraft E, Plateau CR. A Prospective Study

of Teammate Factors on Athletes’ Well-Being, Disordered Eating,

and Compulsive Exercise. Sport Exercise and Performance

Psychology. 2022.

6. Reifsteck EJ, Brooks DD, Newton JD, Shriver LH.

Promoting a Healthy Post-Collegiate Lifestyle: An Evaluation of

the Moving On! Transition Program for Student-Athletes. Journal

of Higher Education Athletics & Innovation. 2018.

7. Clermont C, Paquette L, Lalande D, Dion J. Self‐

determination, Restrictive Eating, and Psychological Needs:

Challenges for Young Athletes. Brain and Behavior. 2022.

8. Lai IJ, Chang LC, Lee CK, Liao L-L. Nutrition Literacy

Mediates the Relationships Between Multi-Level Factors and

College Students’ Healthy Eating Behavior: Evidence From a

Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients. 2021.

9. Fu T, Wang J, Xu S, Yu J, Sun G. Media Internalized

Pressure and Restrained Eating Behavior in College Students: The

Multiple Mediating Effects of Body Esteem and Social Physique

Anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022.

10. Karpinski C, Milliner K. Assessing Intentions to Eat a

Healthful Diet Among National Collegiate Athletic Association

Division II Collegiate Athletes. Journal of Athletic Training. 2016.

11. Trigueros R, Mercader I, González-Bernal JJ, González‐

Santos J, Navarro-Gómez N, Soto-Cámara R. The Influence of the

Trainer’s Social Behaviors on the Resilience, Anxiety, Stress,

Depression and Eating Habits of Athletes. Nutrients. 2020.

12. Francisco R, Narciso I, Alarcão M. Individual and

Relational Risk Factors for the Development of Eating Disorders in

Adolescent Aesthetic Athletes and General Adolescents. Eating

and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity.

2013.

13. Schaal K, Tafflet M, Nassif H, Thibault V, Pichard C,

Alcotte M, et al. Psychological Balance in High Level Athletes:

Gender-Based Differences and Sport-Specific Patterns. Plos One.

2011.

14. Rudd NA, Carter J. Building Positive Body Image

Among College Athletes: A Socially Responsible Approach.

Clothing and Textiles Research Journal. 2006.

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

2024-01-01

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024): Serial Number 5

Section

Articles

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Sefa Bulut, Mehdi Rostami, Jamel Hajji, Sergii Boltivets, Nadereh Saadati, Jiantang Yang, Maura McDonnell, Chidinma Chikwe, Erwin A. William (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Bulut, S., Rostami, M., Hajji, J., Boltivets, S., Saadati, N., Yang, J., McDonnell, M., Chikwe, C., & William, E. A. . (2024). Psychological and Social Factors Influencing Eating Behaviors in College Athletes. Health Nexus, 2(1), 99-105. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.hn.2.1.11
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC