Personality and psychological correlates of eating disorder symptoms among male collegiate athletes

• Published in: Eating behaviors : an international journal Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 615 - 618
• Main Authors: Galli, Nick, A. Petrie, Trent, Greenleaf, Christy, J. Reel, Justine, E. Carter, Jennifer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Affect; Applied psychology; Athletes - psychology; Athletes - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image - psychology; Disordered eating; Eating behavior disorders; Eating disorders; Exercise - psychology; Feeding and Eating Disorders - diagnosis; Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Male athletes; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Personality; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Self Concept; Sports. Leisure; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Universities; Young Adult; United States; Personality; Disordered eating; Male athletes; Eating disorders; Human; Symptomatology; Young adult; Male; Predictive factor; Athlete; Eating disorder
• ISSN: 1471-0153; 1873-7358
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2014.08.007

Despite a proliferation of research on disordered eating in female athletes, few studies have included male athletes. The purpose of this study was to determine which of five personality and psychological variables of interest (i.e., perfectionism, self-esteem, optimism, reasons for exercise, and appearance orientation) best predicted eating disorder status (i.e., symptomatic or asymptomatic) in male athletes. Two hundred three male athletes (Mage=20.29, SD=1.64) from three National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I institutions participated. More athletes were asymptomatic (80.8%) than symptomatic (19.2%). None of the variables significantly predicted symptomatic status. These findings contrast the literature on predictors of disordered eating symptomatology among female athletes, and suggest the need for further research to identify other potential predictors of eating disturbance among male athletes. •80.8% of athletes were asymptomatic, and 19.2% symptomatic for an eating disorder.•Predictors accounted for only 6% of the variance in eating disorder classification.•The model correctly classified all asymptomatic, but no symptomatic athletes.