Objective: The present study was developed to explicate attributes associated with increased likelihood of disordered eating behaviors and treatment avoidance and help practitioners better-identify and assist high-risk individuals. Participants: Varsity athletes (n=51,882) who completed the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) between 2011 and 2019. Methods: Data was collected from survey responses to questions related to disordered eating behaviors. Disorders were cross-sectioned into eight predictors: year in school, gender, sexual-orientation, race/ethnicity, school-type, international-student, history of mental health illness, and anxiety of impending academic performance. Results: Two percent of the student-athletes self-reported an ED diagnosis, and within those two percent 65.9% reported receiving treatment for their ED. Gender, sexual-orientation, and race/ethnicity had a significant impact on an ED diagnosis. Conclusions: Academic performance and history of mental health treatment showed a significant effect on seeking treatment for ED. Other predictors including gender, sexual-orientation, race/ethnicity, had significant effects on the probability of an ED diagnosis.
Hughbanks et al. (Sun,) studied this question.