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Rachel Gaines Thesis.pdf (1001.98 KB)

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Critical Elements That Affect Collegiate Athletes' Risk of Eating Disorder and Performance Perfectionism

Gaines, Rachel A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1399813887

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Education, Cleveland State University, College of Education and Human Services.
Purpose: This study examined how sexual orientation, gender, collegiate division, and type of sport affected risk of developing an eating disorder and performance perfectionism in collegiate athletes. It was hypothesized that female athletes and Division I athletes would exhibit a higher level of perceived pressures and a higher risk of developing an eating disorder than male athletes and other divisions, respectively. In addition, homosexual athletes and athletes in aesthetic sports would report greater levels of perceived performance pressures and would express greater risk of developing an eating disorder than their counterparts. Methods: Two hundred and seventy-seven collegiate athletes (57 males; 210 females) from Division I (N = 64), II (N = 79), and III (N = 119) colleges and universities participated in this study. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, Eating Attitudes Test-16, and the Sport-Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale to evaluate the eating attitudes and performance perfection of collegiate athletes. Factorial MANOVAs were used to examine the mean vector scores of perfectionism between genders and divisions I, II, and between sexual orientation and type of sports. Factorial ANOVAs were used to examine mean differences of risk of developing an eating disorder between genders and among athletes in divisions as well as sexual orientation and type of sports. A hierarchical multiple regression was used to predict eating disorders from gender and other independent variables. Results: A significant difference in PS and PPP were found between Divisions I and III athletes. Significant differences in COM, PS, PPP, and PCP were found between athletes in aesthetic and non-aesthetic sports participants. Likewise, significant differences were found for COM, PPP, and PCP based on sexual orientation. Female athletes had a significantly greater risk of developing an eating disorder than male athletes, and they are at a significantly higher risk of developing an eating disorder in non-aesthetic and aesthetic sports than male athletes. A moderate positive correlation between risk of developing an eating disorder and COM and between COM and PCP was found. Gender was found to be a significant predictor of eating disorders in athletes. Conclusion: Extrinsic and personal pressures influence collegiate athletes to pursue perfectionism within sport that could negatively affect psychological, physical, and emotional health. Gender differences in eating attitudes suggest eating disorders remain more prominent in female athletes; however, pathological eating disorders are still present in male athletes. These results suggest that training and awareness programs must be established within athletic departments to reduce discrimination, promote early detection, and create an open environment conducive to all members participating.
Eddie, T. C. Lam, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Sheila Patterson, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Lisa Doane, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Kenneth Sparks, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Sports Management
Sport Perfectionism; Eating Disorders; College Athletes; Sexual Orientation; Gender; Division

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gaines, R. A. (2014). Critical Elements That Affect Collegiate Athletes' Risk of Eating Disorder and Performance Perfectionism [Master's thesis, Cleveland State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1399813887

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gaines, Rachel. Critical Elements That Affect Collegiate Athletes' Risk of Eating Disorder and Performance Perfectionism. 2014. Cleveland State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1399813887.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gaines, Rachel. "Critical Elements That Affect Collegiate Athletes' Risk of Eating Disorder and Performance Perfectionism." Master's thesis, Cleveland State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1399813887

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

csu1399813887
815
© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Cleveland State University and OhioLINK.