Collegiate Cross Country Coaches’ Knowledge of Eating Disorders

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Govero ◽  
Barbara A. Bushman

Athletes are at a high risk for eating disorders due to the pressures placed on them by themselves as well as coaches. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the knowledge level of eating disorders among cross country coaches, (2) to determine their level of confidence in this knowledge, and (3) to determine reported sources of educational resources. Four schools were randomly selected from each NCAA Division I conference (return rate: 48%). A two-part questionnaire assessed sources of information and knowledge of eating disorders. Literature and sponsored programs were the two most common sources of information. For the 30 knowledge questions, coaches indicated their confidence level on a 4-item Likert-type scale. The knowledge of the majority of coaches was relatively high, and those with higher accuracy also had higher confidence. The confidence level and the percent of coaches answering each question correctly were significantly correlated, r=0.56 (p<0.01) but the confidence level and the percent answering incorrectly were not significantly correlated, r=0.24 (p=0.24). There were no significant differences in knowledge scores considering years of coaching (p=0.67) nor were there any significant differences in the scores between males and females (p=0.17). Although the cross country coaches were quite knowledgeable, additional ways to increase knowledge of eating disorders are needed.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Krebs ◽  
Christopher R. Dennison ◽  
Lisa Kellar ◽  
Jeff Lucas

Purpose. This study compared gender differences in eating disorder risk among NCAA Division I cross country and track distance running student-athletes. Methods. Six hundred thirty-eight male and female student-athletes competing at distances of 800m or greater completed the Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care (ESP). Scores on the ESP were used as the risk of eating disorders. Results. Females screened positive at higher rates for risk of eating disorders than males on the ESP at a cutoff of 2 (sensitivity 90-100%, specificity 71%) with rates of 45.95%±3.03 and 13.66%±1.80, respectively. Females were also screened positive at higher rates than males at a stricter cutoff of 3 (sensitivity 81%, specificity 92%), with rates of 21.69%±2.50 compared to 4.64%±1.10, respectively. Conclusion. This study highlights that, among distance runners, both males and females are at risk of eating disorders, with females being at higher risk. It also emphasizes the need for screening for risk of eating disorders in this population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 490-499
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Barrett ◽  
Trent A. Petrie

Although researchers have examined eating disorders in female athletes, few such studies have been done with athletes who are retired, and even fewer have been quantitative. Thus, the authors empirically tested an established eating disorder theoretical model with 218 former NCAA Division-I female collegiate athletes who had been retired for 2–6 years. In retirement, participants completed measures of general sociocultural pressures related to body and appearance, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, negative affect, and bulimic symptomatology. Through structural equation modeling, the authors examined the direct and indirect relationships among the latent variables while controlling for body mass index and years since retirement. The model fit the data well, supporting the hypothesized direct and indirect relationships among the variables and explaining 54% of the variance in bulimic symptomatology. Despite no longer being exposed to sport pressures that contribute to eating disorders, female athletes experience such symptoms long into retirement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandler McDonald ◽  
Noah John Erb ◽  
David Aguilar-Alvarez

Abstract Objectives Inflammatory cytokine and immune cell production is modulated by iron status including storage measured by ferritin levels. Cross-country athletes have an elevated risk of iron depletion and stress fractures; the effects of a competitive season on inflammation, iron stores, and bone biomarkers have yet to be elucidated. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of one season of NCAA Division I (D-I) cross-country competition has on TNF-α, serum ferritin (sFer), complete blood count (CBC), and various bone biomarkers to identify potential relationships. Methods Twelve D-I cross-country athletes, ages 19 to 25 years old, were followed for one year. Blood was collected at the beginning of each season and analyzed for CBC and sFer levels through enzymatic spectrophotometry. TNF-α, OPG, OPN, DKK1, SOST, PTH, FGF23, Insulin, and Leptin were measured through Luminex® MAGPIX® multiplex assays. Paired-samples t-test compared the 2017 preseason and 2018 preseason baselines, while Pearson correlations included both seasons. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM® SPSS Statistics 25 software. Results TNF-α levels increased significantly from 2017 to 2018 (9.5 ± 4.6 vs. 12.2 ± 4.9 pg/mL, P = 0.005) as well as DKK1 (544.4 ± 223.6 vs. 1167.0 ± 212.1 pg/mL, P < 0.001), while % Monocytes decreased significantly from 2017 to 2018 (10.7 ± 2.6 vs. 8.6 ± 1.9%, P = 0.003). sFer showed to have a moderate positive-correlation with TNF-α and OPG (r = 0.619, P = 0.002; r = 0.640, P = 0.001) throughout both preseason intervals. Conclusions Given TNF-α has shown to induce DKK1, both bone mineral density and bone biomarkers of the cross-country athlete needs to be continually assessed throughout multiple stages of their competitive season to insure proper bone health. Further investigation is needed into the potential causes for the increases of TNF-α and DKK1 observed in cross-country athletes. Funding Sources Weber State University's Office of Undergraduate Research Grant. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura D. DiPasquale ◽  
Trent A. Petrie

Eating disorder prevalence rates among athletes vary greatly because of the different ways in which researchers have measured and classified them, and the extent to which they are higher than those found among nonathletes remains unresolved. The present study examined prevalence of eating disorders, body image issues, and weight control behaviors using a valid diagnostic measure. Participants included 146 male and 156 female NCAA Division I student-athletes and a matched sample of 170 male and 353 female collegiate nonathletes. Overall, eating disorder prevalence rates and use of pathogenic weight control behaviors were lower among nonathletes than athletes. Rates for athletes in the current study were lower than previous studies. These findings are likely due to the lack of anonymity the athletes had when completing questionnaires, as data were collected through athletes’ preseason physicals, whereas nonathletes completed questionnaires anonymously over the Internet. Recommendations for athletic departments’ screening for eating disorders are made.


2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon H. Thompson ◽  
Presley Smith ◽  
Rita DiGioacchino

A serious commitment to sport and exercise may predispose female athletes to the development of eating disorders. The energy restriction and accompanying menstrual disorders that are often associated with eating disorders may increase female athletes’ injury risks. The purpose of this study was to assess NCAA Division I, II, and III female collegiate cross country athletes’ weekly exercise time, rates of injury, menstrual dysfunction, and subclinical eating disorder risks. A paper-pencil survey was completed by athletes (mean age = 19.64 years) from NCAA Division I (n = 82), Division II (n = 103) and Division III (n = 115) colleges across the United States. Division I athletes spent significantly more weekly exercise time (M = 687.97 minutes) than Division II (M = 512.38 minutes, p = .0007) or Division III (M = 501.32 minutes, p = .0003) athletes. When examining rates of menstrual dysfunction, 23 percent reported amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea. Over 60 percent (64.3%) of the athletes reported a performance-related injury, with the knee being the most commonly injured site. 24 percent (23.7%) of the athletes reported having stress fractures. Scores for subclinical eating disorders for Division I athletes were significantly higher (M = 87.11) than Division III athletes (M = 82.94, p = .0042). Division I female athletes may be at an increased risk of developing subclinical eating disorders compared to those competing in Division II or III. Because early identification of those with subclinical eating disorders prevents the progression to eating disorders, further study is warranted.


Author(s):  
Robert Madden ◽  
Zachary Winkelmann ◽  
Samantha Weber ◽  
Erin Moore ◽  
Toni Torres-McGehee

Purpose: Anger associated with sports participation may affect inability to acutely process anger, may decrease performance and increase the likelihood of risk-taking behavior in collegiate athletes. Therefore, the purpose was to examine the prevalence of anger in collegiate student-athletes across sex, academic status, and sport type. Methods: A cross sectional study over a three-year period examined 759 NCAA Division I student-athletes at one institution (age=20±1 years; males: n=259; females: n=500) completed an optional pre-participation behavioral health screening questionnaire, personal demographic information and the Anger Index Self-Test. Results: Overall, 37.2% (n=282/759; males=127/259, 49.0%; females=155/500, 31.0%) of participants were at high-risk for anger. We identified a significant difference between the anger and sex [Χ2(2, N=759) =28.1, P≤0.01]. We also identified a significant difference between the anger and sport type [Χ2(8, N=759)=32.1, P≤0.01] with 55.2% (n=419/759) at moderate risk for anger despite sport type; with the highest percentages presenting high-risk for anger within power sports (n= 64/116, 55.2%) and ball sports (n=98/240, 40.8%). No significant differences were identified for anger risk and academic status (P=0.66). Conclusions: Female collegiate student-athletes demonstrated a higher prevalence of anger than male collegiate student-athletes, yet more males were high-risk. Most student-athletes displayed moderate-risk for anger across different sports. Anger across academic status was not significantly different implying that anger management and coping skills may need to be taught during their student-athlete tenure to mitigate the identified risk. A collegiate student-athlete’s inability to process anger may affect sports performance and have negative consequences on their personal and social life. A primary prevention mechanism exists to explore proper coping mechanisms for anger during sport before the onset of mental health conditions that could exacerbate the experience for the individual.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan C. Davies ◽  
Brenna M. Bird

Student-athletes often fail to report concussion signs and symptoms, thereby putting themselves at risk for delayed recovery and permanent impairment. The present study examined motivations for underreporting concussion symptoms among college athletes enrolled at an NCAA Division I university. One hundred and ninety-three student-athletes in high-risk sports completed a multiple-choice survey related to self-reporting of suspected concussion symptoms and reporting of teammates’ symptoms. Results indicated that 45% of participants did not report their own suspected concussions during the present season and 50% did not report suspected concussions in teammates. Responses revealed that the primary reason for underreporting a suspected concussion was the belief that the blow to the head was not serious enough. Suggestions are provided for athletes, athletic staff, and coaches to improve players’ awareness of the signs, symptoms, and consequences of concussions, as well as how to report suspected concussions appropriately.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 892
Author(s):  
Catherine Saenz ◽  
Jared A. Mallard ◽  
Kelsey M. Beckmann ◽  
Terrance Orange ◽  
Kevin RM Coyle ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 38 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S206-S207
Author(s):  
Patrick Mahaney ◽  
Peter Horvath ◽  
John Leddy ◽  
Joan Dorn ◽  
Joe Muscarella

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