Predictors of disordered eating in a sample of elite Division I college athletes.
OBJECTIVE
The present study sought to investigate the relationship between a number of areas of elite student-athletes' lives and disordered eating.


METHODS
We surveyed 1445 elite Division I athletes at 11 different institutions and in 11 different sports. Hierarchical regression was used to indicate specific areas of the participants' collegiate experience that may be associated with disordered eating attitudes and symptomatology.


RESULTS
Results demonstrate that the variables entered into each model predicted between 40.5% and 46.4% of the variance for the restriction of food, body dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness. Categories of variables that generally predicted the most variance for each dependent measure were demographics, athletic involvement, and personality. Of the 11 sports included in the analysis, wrestling and gymnastics demonstrated elevated levels of drive for thinness, food restriction, and purging behavior compared to other athletes.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that in elite athletes gender, ethnicity, sport, and self-esteem are associated with several behaviors and attitudes indicative of disordered eating.
Psychology Department, North Dakota State University, Minard Hall, Fargo, ND 58105, USA. scott.engel@ndsu.nodak.edu
Scott G
SG
Engel
Craig
C
Johnson
Pauline S
PS
Powers
Ross D
RD
Crosby
Steve A
SA
Wonderlich
David A
DA
Wittrock
James E
JE
Mitchell