A model of relationships of teammate relations, body image, and eating behaviors among athletes

Recent studies have identified athletes to be at elevated risk for developing disordered eating habits. However, few studies have investigated the association between teammate interactions and athletes’ relationships with food and their body. To address this gap, the current study examined a model in which teammate appearance pressures were associated with disordered eating behaviors and body image concerns among varsity and club athletes who competed in a variety of sports at a US university. A sample of 156 university athletes, mean age = 20.7 years (SD = 1.2) (19.2 % varsity, 80.8 % club, 63.5 % female-identifying), completed self-report measures that assessed teammate pressures, depth of teammate relationships, internalization of athletic body ideals, teammate body comparisons, weight and shape concerns, and muscularity oriented disordered eating behaviors. Path analysis was used to test the hypothetical model, which after modification revealed a good fit to the data. The findings suggest that social frameworks are useful for conceptualizing relationships between teammate pressures and associated body image concerns and disordered eating behaviors. Further, the findings provide insight into how team environments may play an important role in shaping athletes’ body image and relationship with food and support the development of prevention interventions that can be implemented at team levels.