Disordered eating among female collegiate athletes

The purpose of this study was to discover what female collegiate athletes find to be the most helpful verbal communications and non-verbal communications from their coaches with regard to disordered eating. In doing so, this study aimed to gain insight into and understanding of the helpful behaviors in which coaches engage that promote healthy - as opposed to disordered - eating behaviors. While there are numerous studies on the detrimental effects coaches have on their athletes when it comes to eating disorders, there was little to no research on what coaches do that is helpful. In defining these helpful behaviors, the purpose of this study was threefold: 1. To discover what female collegiate athletes find to be the most helpful verbal communications from their coaches with regard to disordered eating. 2. To discover what female collegiate athletes find to be the most helpful non-verbal communications from their coaches with regard to disordered eating. 3. To determine if any of these findings differ by type of sport. Coaches, athletics administrators, and sports professionals were notified of the research study via the researcher's own professional network, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. These contacts were asked to forward the information to their athletes; those who wished to participate in the study contacted the researcher directly. The participants included nine current and two former student-athletes for a total of 11 female collegiate athletes across eight different sports representing all three NCAA divisions. The interviews lasted between 40 and 60 minutes in length and were conducted by the same researcher. The qualitative data gathered from these interviews were fully transcribed and then reviewed by the researcher. Transcript analysis involved placing responses into categories through the three phases of coding as defined by grounded theory research: open, axial, and selective. Because the interview questions were divided into verbal and non-verbal coach communications, the data analysis from the interviews provided the researcher with the necessary information to achieve the purpose of the study. A result of the findings is best described by the central theme of strength which links two critical areas developed from the interview data: Coach-Athlete Relationship and Athlete Eating Habits & Physique. The theory developed through the study's grounded theory approach is as follows: 1. A strong, positive relationship must exist between the coach and athlete before the coach communicates anything regarding eating habits or physique of the athlete. 2. Once such a relationship is established, both verbal and non-verbal coach communications regarding athlete eating habits or physique should focus on strength.