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Scott_Haycraft_Plateau_Review_accepted_PSE_2019.pdf (455.55 kB)

Teammate influences on the eating attitudes and behaviours of athletes: A systematic review

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journal contribution
posted on 2019-02-25, 14:03 authored by Charlotte L. Scott, Emma HaycraftEmma Haycraft, Carolyn PlateauCarolyn Plateau
Background It has been well documented that athletes are at an increased risk of developing disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. Over the last two decades, researchers have focused their attention on how teammates may influence athletes’ eating attitudes and behaviours. Objective To systematically review the literature relating to teammate influences on athletes’ eating attitudes and behaviours. Method A systematic literature search of the SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO and MEDLINE databases was conducted. Qualitative and quantitative studies were included if they met the following inclusion criteria: (1) examined the relationship between teammate influence and eating attitudes and/or behaviours; (2) sampled actively training athletes; (3) written in English; and (4) published in a peer-reviewed academic journal. Results Twenty-four studies were included (n = 13 quantitative, n = 11 qualitative). Included studies were found to be of good or reasonable quality. Mechanisms of influence were categorised as (1) Teammate support (e.g., supportive teammate friendships, promotion of healthy eating practices, vigilance against disordered eating), and (2) Teammate pressure (e.g., conflicting teammate friendships, critical comments and appearance conversations, maladaptive team norms, and competitive comparisons). Conclusion Teammates are an important source of influence on athlete eating attitudes and behaviours and these influences can be protective against, or engender an increased risk for, disordered eating. Additional, prospective research is required to enhance understanding of the mechanisms of teammate influences and to inform the development of interventions to reduce disordered eating among athletes.

Funding

Charlotte L Scott is funded by a PhD studentship awarded by the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University, UK.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

Volume

43

Pages

183-194

Citation

SCOTT, C.L., HAYCRAFT, E. and PLATEAU, C.R., 2019. Teammate influences on the eating attitudes and behaviours of athletes: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 43, pp.183-194.

Publisher

© Elsevier

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.02.006

Acceptance date

2019-02-12

Publication date

2019-02-22

Copyright date

2019

ISSN

1469-0292

Language

  • en