Eating psychopathology amongst athletes: The importance of relationships with parents, coaches and teammates

Abstract

The aims of this study were twofold. First, it aimed to determine the association between the quality of significant interpersonal relationships and eating psychopathology amongst a sample of athletes. Second, it examined the mediating role of self-esteem, clinical perfectionism and depression in such an association. Four hundred and eleven British athletes completed self-report instruments pertaining to eating psychopathology, negative and positive aspects of the quality of relationships with parents, coaches and closest teammate, self-esteem, depression and perfectionism. Significant associations were found between the quality of the parent–athlete and coach–athlete relationships and eating psychopathology. Specifically, parental and coach–athlete relationships characterised by increased conflict, and decreased support, were indirectly related to increased eating psychopathology, through low self-esteem, increased self-critical perfectionism and depression. Relationship quality with teammates was not associated with athletes' eating psychopathology. The present findings provide evidence to suggest that current relationship dynamics with parents and coaches influences athletes' eating psychopathology indirectly through self-esteem, self-critical perfectionism and depression.