The prevalence of disordered eating in elite male and female soccer players

Will Abbott; Adam Brett; Thomas E. Brownlee; Kelly M. Hammond; Liam D. Harper; Robert J. Naughton; Liam Anderson; Edward H. Munson; Jack V. Sharkey; Rebecca K. Randell; Tom Clifford

doi:10.1007/s40519-020-00872-0

The prevalence of disordered eating in elite male and female soccer players

Will Abbott, Adam Brett, Thomas E. Brownlee, Kelly M. Hammond, Liam D. Harper, Robert J. Naughton, Liam Anderson, Edward H. Munson, Jack V. Sharkey, Rebecca K. Randell, Tom Clifford^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Purpose: To examine the prevalence of disordered eating (DE) in elite male and female soccer players and the influence of perfectionism.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, elite male (n = 137) and female (n = 70) soccer players and non-athlete controls (n = 179) completed the clinical perfectionism questionnaire (CPQ-12) and the eating attitudes test (EAT-26) to assess perfectionism and DE risk, respectively.

Results: Male soccer players had higher EAT-26 scores than controls (10.4 ± 9.9 vs. 6.8 ± 6.7; P = 0.001), but there were no differences in the prevalence of clinical levels of DE (EAT-26 score ≥ 20) (15 vs. 5%, respectively; X² = 0.079) The proportion of females with DE risk was higher in controls [EAT-26: 13.9 ± 11.6 (25% of population)] than female players [EAT-26: 10.0 ± 9.0% (11% of population)] (X² = 0.001). With linear regression, perfectionism explained 20% of the variation in DE risk in males (P = 0.001); in females, athletic status (player vs. control) and perfectionism were significant predictors of DE risk, explaining 21% of the variation (P = 0.001). Male reserve team players had higher EAT-26 (+ 3.5) and perfectionism (+ 2.7) scores than first-team players (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the prevalence of DE risk between the male and female soccer players (X² = 0.595).

Conclusions: The prevalence of DE risk was not different in elite male and female soccer players; in fact, the prevalence was greatest in non-athlete female controls. Perfectionism is a significant predictor of DE risk in males and females.

Level of evidence: III, case–control study.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	491-498
Number of pages	8
Journal	Eating and Weight Disorders
Volume	26
Issue number	2
Early online date	27 Feb 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00872-0
Publication status	Published - Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).

Keywords

Eating disorders
Football
Mental health
Nutrition
Sports psychology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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Cite this

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title = "The prevalence of disordered eating in elite male and female soccer players",

abstract = "Purpose: To examine the prevalence of disordered eating (DE) in elite male and female soccer players and the influence of perfectionism. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, elite male (n = 137) and female (n = 70) soccer players and non-athlete controls (n = 179) completed the clinical perfectionism questionnaire (CPQ-12) and the eating attitudes test (EAT-26) to assess perfectionism and DE risk, respectively. Results: Male soccer players had higher EAT-26 scores than controls (10.4 ± 9.9 vs. 6.8 ± 6.7; P = 0.001), but there were no differences in the prevalence of clinical levels of DE (EAT-26 score ≥ 20) (15 vs. 5%, respectively; X2 = 0.079) The proportion of females with DE risk was higher in controls [EAT-26: 13.9 ± 11.6 (25% of population)] than female players [EAT-26: 10.0 ± 9.0% (11% of population)] (X2 = 0.001). With linear regression, perfectionism explained 20% of the variation in DE risk in males (P = 0.001); in females, athletic status (player vs. control) and perfectionism were significant predictors of DE risk, explaining 21% of the variation (P = 0.001). Male reserve team players had higher EAT-26 (+ 3.5) and perfectionism (+ 2.7) scores than first-team players (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the prevalence of DE risk between the male and female soccer players (X2 = 0.595). Conclusions: The prevalence of DE risk was not different in elite male and female soccer players; in fact, the prevalence was greatest in non-athlete female controls. Perfectionism is a significant predictor of DE risk in males and females. Level of evidence: III, case–control study.",

keywords = "Eating disorders, Football, Mental health, Nutrition, Sports psychology",

author = "Will Abbott and Adam Brett and Brownlee, {Thomas E.} and Hammond, {Kelly M.} and Harper, {Liam D.} and Naughton, {Robert J.} and Liam Anderson and Munson, {Edward H.} and Sharkey, {Jack V.} and Randell, {Rebecca K.} and Tom Clifford",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020, The Author(s).",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1007/s40519-020-00872-0",

language = "English",

volume = "26",

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AU - Brett, Adam

AU - Brownlee, Thomas E.

AU - Hammond, Kelly M.

AU - Harper, Liam D.

AU - Naughton, Robert J.

AU - Anderson, Liam

AU - Munson, Edward H.

AU - Sharkey, Jack V.

AU - Randell, Rebecca K.

AU - Clifford, Tom

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AB - Purpose: To examine the prevalence of disordered eating (DE) in elite male and female soccer players and the influence of perfectionism. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, elite male (n = 137) and female (n = 70) soccer players and non-athlete controls (n = 179) completed the clinical perfectionism questionnaire (CPQ-12) and the eating attitudes test (EAT-26) to assess perfectionism and DE risk, respectively. Results: Male soccer players had higher EAT-26 scores than controls (10.4 ± 9.9 vs. 6.8 ± 6.7; P = 0.001), but there were no differences in the prevalence of clinical levels of DE (EAT-26 score ≥ 20) (15 vs. 5%, respectively; X2 = 0.079) The proportion of females with DE risk was higher in controls [EAT-26: 13.9 ± 11.6 (25% of population)] than female players [EAT-26: 10.0 ± 9.0% (11% of population)] (X2 = 0.001). With linear regression, perfectionism explained 20% of the variation in DE risk in males (P = 0.001); in females, athletic status (player vs. control) and perfectionism were significant predictors of DE risk, explaining 21% of the variation (P = 0.001). Male reserve team players had higher EAT-26 (+ 3.5) and perfectionism (+ 2.7) scores than first-team players (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the prevalence of DE risk between the male and female soccer players (X2 = 0.595). Conclusions: The prevalence of DE risk was not different in elite male and female soccer players; in fact, the prevalence was greatest in non-athlete female controls. Perfectionism is a significant predictor of DE risk in males and females. Level of evidence: III, case–control study.

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KW - Football

KW - Mental health

KW - Nutrition

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DO - 10.1007/s40519-020-00872-0

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JO - Eating and Weight Disorders

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ER -

The prevalence of disordered eating in elite male and female soccer players

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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