Higher BMI Is Associated with Reduced Cognitive Performance in Division I Athletes

Abstract Objective High-level cognitive performance is important for navigating the complex environment of sport. The executive function domain may be of particular importance because it focuses on flexible thinking and self-control. It is unclear if high-level athletes exhibit similar executive function compared to recreational athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare executive function between male and female Division-I collegiate athletes and recreationally active peers. Methods Thirty-seven Division-I athletes (16 females, 21 males) and 30 recreationally active college students (19 females, 11 males) participated. Participants completed the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (FICA) and Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (DCCS) from the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognitive Battery on a tablet to assess cognitive flexibility and attention and inhibitory control, respectively. Demographically-corrected T-scores were used for analysis. Two-way ANOVAs compared cognitive performance based on group and sex (p ≤ 0.05). Results There was a significant group-by-sex interaction for the FICA (p = 0.005). Female recreational athletes (50.68 ± 10.18) demonstrated higher FICA scores compared to female Division-I athletes (40.88 ± 7.35; p = 0.003, ES = 1.06). Male Division-I athletes (48.67 ± 10.39) also exhibited greater scores compared to female Division-I athletes (p = 0.015, ES = 0.83). There was no significant group-by-sex interaction (p = 0.84), group effect (p = 0.35), or sex effect (p = 0.43) for the DCCS. Conclusions Female Division-I athletes demonstrated poorer performance on the FICA compared to male Division-I athletes and recreational female athletes which may indicate a decreased ability to suppress motor responses caused by internal or external distractions. The significance of these findings for mitigating injury risk and improving athletic performance should be explored.

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Perceptions of Disordered Eating Patterns Among Division-I Athletes

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e633452009-001 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen A. Russo ◽

Casey Fields

Keyword(s):

Disordered Eating ◽

Division I ◽

Eating Patterns ◽

Division I Athletes ◽

Disordered Eating Patterns

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Food Choice Decisions of Collegiate Division I Athletes: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072322 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2322

Author(s):

Kaitlyn M. Eck ◽

Carol Byrd-Bredbenner

Keyword(s):

Health Beliefs ◽

Fast Food ◽

Division I ◽

Iron Protein ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Fried Foods ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

And Performance ◽

Division I Athletes ◽

Nutrition Professionals

Limited research has examined athletes’ food and health beliefs and decisions and the congruence of these decisions with recommendations from nutrition professionals. This study aimed to improve understanding of athletes’ food-related beliefs and practices to enable nutrition professionals to more effectively enhance performance while protecting athletes’ health. Division I college athletes (n = 14, 64% female) from a variety of sports were recruited to participate in 20-min semi-structured phone interviews about food and nutrition-related behaviors and cognitions. Data were content analyzed to identify themes and trends. Prominent factors influencing athletes’ food choices were potential benefits to health and performance, availability of foods, and recommendations from sports dietitians. Foods commonly consumed by athletes, including fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, were generally healthy and aligned with sports nutrition recommendations. Athletes avoided energy-dense nutrient-poor foods, such as fast food and fried foods, with the goal of improving performance. Some athletes took supplements (i.e., multivitamin, iron, protein) on the premise that they would improve health and enhance performance or recovery. While athletes’ nutrition behaviors are generally congruent with current recommendations, findings highlighted misconceptions held by athletes related to the benefits of some supplements and the belief that packaged/processed foods were inherently less healthy than other options. Nutrition misconceptions held by athletes and incongruities between athletes’ nutrition knowledge and behaviors suggest that dietitians should aim to dispel misconceptions held by athletes and provide additional guidance and information to support athletes’ current healthful behaviors to ensure these behaviors extend beyond their college athletic career.

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Health-Related Quality of Life in Former National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Collegiate Athletes Compared With Noncollegiate Athletes: A 5-Year Follow-Up

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-0107.20 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Janet E. Simon ◽

Mallory Lorence ◽

Carrie L. Docherty

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Function ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Division I ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Division I Athletes

Context The effect of athletic participation on lifelong health among elite athletes has received increasing attention, as sport-related injuries can have a substantial influence on long-term health. Objective To determine the current health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of former National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes compared with noncollegiate athletes 5 years after an initial assessment. Design Cohort study. Setting Online survey. Patients or Other Participants From the former Division I athletes, 193 responses were received (response rate = 83.2%; 128 men, 65 women; age = 58.47 ± 6.17 years), and from the noncollegiate athletes, 169 surveys were returned (response rate = 75.1%; 80 men, 89 women; age = 58.44 ± 7.28 years). Main Outcome Measure(s) The independent variables were time (baseline, 5 years later) and group (former Division I athlete, noncollegiate athlete). Participants completed 7 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scales: sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, physical function, and satisfaction with participation in social roles. Results Sleep disturbance, depression, fatigue, pain, and physical function were significant for a time × group interaction (P < .05), with the largest differences seen in pain and physical function between groups at time point 2 (22.19 and 13.99 points, respectively). Former Division I athletes had worse scores for depression, fatigue, pain, and physical function at follow-up (P < .05), with the largest differences seen on the depression, fatigue, and physical function scales (8.33, 6.23, and 6.61 points, respectively). Conclusions Because of the competitive nature of sport, the long-term risks of diminished HRQoL need to become a priority for health care providers and athletes during their athletic careers. Additionally, physical activity transition programs need to be explored to help senior student-athletes transition from highly structured and competitive collegiate athletics to lifestyle physical activity, as it appears that individuals in the noncollegiate athlete cohort engaged in more physical activity, weighed less, and had increased HRQoL.

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Knee mechanics during a change of direction movement in division I athletes following full return to sport from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Physical Therapy in Sport ◽

10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.11.008 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 75-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nicole Clark ◽

Trent Forshey ◽

Ivan Mulligan ◽

Curtis Kindel

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Ligament Reconstruction ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Return To Sport ◽

Division I ◽

Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ◽

Change Of Direction ◽

Knee Mechanics ◽

Anterior Cruciate ◽

Division I Athletes

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Access to Fueling Stations Is Not Associated with Diet Quality in Division I Athletes

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ◽

10.1016/j.jand.2020.06.047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 120 (9) ◽

pp. A74

Author(s):

M. Sweeney ◽

N. Jontony ◽

E. Hill ◽

C. Spees ◽

C. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Diet Quality ◽

Division I ◽

Division I Athletes

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Five-Year Experience with Screening Electrocardiograms in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Athletes

Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine ◽

10.1097/jsm.0000000000000415 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 182

Keyword(s):

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Division I ◽

Division I Athletes

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Athletes’ Perceptions of Their Team Motivational Climate, Career Exploration and Engagement, and Athletic Identity

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology ◽

10.1123/jcsp.2014-0050 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 360-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kiira N. Poux ◽

Mary D. Fry

Keyword(s):

Self Efficacy ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Athletic Identity ◽

Career Exploration ◽

Motivational Climate ◽

Division I ◽

Sport Teams ◽

High Level ◽

Division I Athletes ◽

The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between studentathletes’ perceptions of the motivational climate on their sport teams and their own career exploration and engagement and athletic identity. Student-athletes (N = 101) from various National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institutions were administered online surveys. Canonical correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the climate variables (i.e., caring, task, and ego) and athletic identity, career self-efficacy, and career exploration/engagement. One significant function emerged: Perceptions of a high task-involving climate and moderate caring climate were positively associated with athletes’ reporting higher athletic identity, career self-efficacy, and career exploration/engagement. Results suggest that Division I athletes may benefit from having coaches who foster a caring and task-involving team climate with regard to the athletes’ development as holistic individuals who spend their college years performing at a high level of sport and also preparing for their lives after college and sports.

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