The relationship between the susceptibility of eating disorders, self-esteem, and body image in female collegiate student-athletes

Research indicates athletes participating in competitive sports may be at a higher risk for developing an eating disorder than non-athletes (Costin, 2007). A variety of factors may lead to an eating disorder. This study looked at the relationship between the susceptibility to eating disorders, self-esteem, and body image and Division I, Division II, and Division III female collegiate student-athletes, and it considers whether competition level was a factor for developing an eating disorder. In this study, Division I, Division II, and Division III female athletes were asked to complete a questionnaire that included three subscales of the EDI-2, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Body Cathexis, in order to determine the eating and exercising attitudes of female student-athletes. The study's findings showed that there was not a relationship between a student-athletes' competition level and their susceptibility to eating disorders; however, there was a relationship between student-athletes' self-esteem level and body image satisfaction level and their susceptibility to eating disorders. It is recommended athletic departments test their student-athletes' levels of self-esteem and body image in order to set up appropriate interventions programs for athletes who may be susceptible to eating disorders due to their self-esteem levels and/or body image satisfaction levels.