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Structural equation modeling of risk factors for the development of eating disorder symptoms in female athletes
Author(s) -
Williamson Donald A.,
Netemeyer Richard G.,
Jackman Lori P.,
Anderson Drew A.,
Funsch Cheryl L.,
Rabalais Jodie Y.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(199505)17:4<387::aid-eat2260170411>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - structural equation modeling , athletes , psychology , eating disorders , disordered eating , anxiety , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , physical therapy , medicine , statistics , mathematics
Risk factors for the development of eating disorder symptoms in female college athletes were studied using structural equation modeling. Three risk factors: social influence for thinness, athletic performance anxiety, and self‐appraisal of athletic achievement, were selected for study. The association of these risk factors and eating disorder symptoms was hypothesized to be mediated by overconcern with body size and shape. The study sample was 98 women recruited from eight sports teams at a major university. Structural equation modeling analysis supported the hypothesized model and cross validation of the model showed the findings to be stable. The results of this correlational study suggested that eating disorder symptoms in college athletes are significantly influenced by the interaction of sociocultural pressure for thinness, athletic performance anxiety, and negative self‐appraisal of athletic achievement. if these risk factors lead to overconcern with body size and shape, then the emergence of an eating disorder is more probable. © 7995 by john Wiley & Sons, Inc.