Are collegiate athletes at higher risk for maladaptive lifestyle behaviors compared to nonathletic peers?
Collegiate athletes, especially males in contact sports, exhibit higher rates of maladaptive lifestyle behaviors, highlighting a need for targeted preventive health interventions.
College athletes appear to be at higher risk than their nonathletic peers for certain maladaptive lifestyle behaviors. Athlete subgroups at highest risk include male athletes and athletes participating in contact sports. Athletes at risk for one high-risk behavior demonstrated an increased risk for multiple risk-taking behaviors. Preventive health interventions deserve further study to determine strategies for risk reduction in high-risk groups.
Nattiv et al. (Wed,) studied this question.