Sport Psychology Research, Center for Sport Psychology and Performance Excellence at the University of North Texas

Investigators: Trent A. Petrie, Ph.D., Scott Martin, Ph.D., Christy Greenleaf, Ph.D., and Priscilla Connors, Ph.D.

The Texas legislature passed a law (SB 530) requiring mandatory annual fitness testing (using the FITNESSGRAM) within the public schools for grades 3-12. The preliminary results from 2007-2008 showed that fewer than 25% of middle school girls and 20% of middle school boys achieved the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) on all six tests (Texas Education Association, 2008). These data indicate that lack of physical activity and fitness are real concerns for students in Texas, a problem that becomes progressively worse as students matriculate through high school. Although the state is collecting and reporting aggregate data, these data are limited because they only address fitness status. As the state enters year two in the implementation of this new policy, our research team is collaborating with the school districts on a longitudinal study (started in 2008-2009 academic year) to examine the interaction of physical fitness, psychological health and well-being, and food choices and nutrition among middle school boys and girls. Physical activity and fitness (cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, etc.), psychological health (positive mood states, etc.), food choices and nutrition (e.g., fruits, vegetables, and dairy products), and family and social environment influence academic performance, school attendance, negative school incidents, and negative health outcomes. Determining the key factors thought to impact these physical and mental health outcomes is important to develop appropriate interventions for adolescence, the critical period of life between puberty and adulthood. Consistent with Healthy People 2010, Project SHAPE (Self-concept, Health, Academic Performance, and Eating) will examine three leading health indicators, including physical activity/fitness levels, overweight and obesity, and psychosocial health.

Prevalence of eating disorders among male and female collegiate athletes and nonathletes

Researchers: Trent A. Petrie, Ph.D., Laura Dipasquale, M.A., and Megan Brannan, M.A.

Overview: In this study, samples of male and female collegiate athletes and nonathletes are being drawn from a Division I level university to participate. Each sample will complete the Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnosis (QEDD) as a screen for level of disordered eating. Athletes and nonathletes who score in the symptomatic or disordered range will be identified and interviewed to determine accuracy of QEDD classification. In addition, a matched sample of asymptomatic athletes and nonathletes will be identified and interviewed as well (using the same protocol). This study will allow us to determine accurate prevalence rates because of the use of follow-up clinical interviews. In addition, it will allow us to test the predictive validity of the QEDD with male and female athletes.

Parents’, coaches’, and peers’ influence on the motivational climate in youth sports: Effects on psychological variables, and intention to continue in sport

Investigators: Matt Atkins, B.A., Erica Force, M.Ed., Dustin Johnson, M.S., and Trent Petrie, Ph.D.

Overview: The purpose of this study is to assess the parenting, coaching and peer factors that contribute to youth athletes' perceived motivational climates, and the relationship of these factors to youth athletes' goal orientations and outcomes such as psychological well-being, sport competence, and enjoyment in sport. This study will provide a better understanding of how youth athlete's goal orientations are related to their perceptions of the motivational climate and the outcomes experienced in sport. The results may also provide information that is helpful for educating parents about the impact they have on their children's youth sport experiences.

The relationship between modeling, pressure, and teasing from important others in the internalization of the thin ideal, the development of body image concerns, and dietary intent among middle school children.

Investigators: Sara Mitchell, M.A., Trent Petrie, Ph.D., Scott Martin, Ph.D.

Overview: The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a ROPES course intervention on increasing team cohesion and individual confidence. Specifically, we will examine the levels of team cohesion (i.e., team unity, task cohesion, social cohesion, etc.) before and after a team participated in a day of low and high ROPES activities run by an experienced and certified facilitator. Further, the levels of cohesion within the team that participated in the ROPES course will be compared to that of a team of similar cohesiveness that did not participate in a ROPES course or similar activity. In addition, individual sport related confidence (i.e., trait and state) will be assessed both within individuals on the team that participated in the ROPES course and between the two teams. Short term and long term effects of the ROPES course will be assessed both within and between teams. This study will provide us with information about whether ROPES courses may be used as effective tools in tandem with sport psychology interventions to improve some fundamental factors that influence team success. Additionally, the results may lead to future development of interventions after a ROPES course to improve the duration of the ROPES course’s effectiveness.

Exploring high school coaches’ opinions of important sport psychologist characteristics.

Overview: As the opportunities for consulting in the field of sport psychology have grown, so has the interest in the “who, what, and how” of service delivery (Anderson, Miles, Robinson, & Mahoney, 2004; Meyers, Coleman, Whelan, & Mehlenbech, 2001; Martin, 2005). To examine this area, research has looked to the “gatekeepers,” or potential consumers, to learn how to better deliver applied services. Research with coaches, however, has been lacking even though gaining entry with a team generally is predicated on gaining entry with the coach (Ravizza, 1988). The purpose of this study is to examine the possible characteristics that coaches determine to be important when deciding to hire a sport psychologist. Participants will fill out an online questionnaire asking them to rate characteristics that they deem as important when deciding to hire a sport psychologist. This study will allow us to get information directly from coaches about what characteristics they think is important when deciding to hire a sport psychology consultant.

A test of an etiological model: The development of disordered eating in division-I university female gymnasts and swimmers/divers

Funding Agency: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Investigators: Carlin M. Anderson, M.S. & Trent Petrie, Ph.D.

The purpose of this study was to examine Petrie and Greenleaf’s (2007) etiological model for the development of eating disorders in athletes, using a large, diverse sample of D-I female collegiate swimmers/divers and gymnasts. These two sports were targeted because they represent lean-body, aesthetic sports that are highly vulnerable to the development of disordered eating. In addition, national governing bodies for these sports are interested in learning more about appropriate and effective interventions, and the results of research on etiological models can form the foundation for such programming. Although based on general eating disorder theory as well as research conducted with athletes, this multidimensional, sociocultural model had not been tested previously with athletes, so the current study represented an advance in research on disordered eating among female athletes. The model suggests that female athletes face both societal pressures from Western culture to be thin, in addition to sport pressures, such as “weigh-ins,” coaches’ body comp preferences, judges’ critiques, and/or revealing attire, etc. These pressures combined are thought to lead to body dissatisfaction, negative affect and dietary restraint in athletes, all of which are significant precursors to disordered eating. However, in the current study, we found that regardless of the degree of body dissatisfaction and internalization of the ideal body, sport pressures led directly to dietary restraint. In other words, athletes may be completely satisfied with how they look and internalize a healthy, realistic body ideal, yet still engage in dietary restraint because they perceive undo pressure from their sport to lose weight (e.g., coach’s comments). The results of this study are helpful in identifying subclinical symptoms of disordered eating in athletes, emphasizing the important role sport pressures play in eating disorder development, clarifying areas to target in treatment intervention and prevention and encouraging a healthy approach to weight, eating, body shape, exercise, and performance in collegiate athletics.

Physical fitness and its relation to mood, body image self-concept, social pressures and internalization, teasing and weight bias in children.

Investigators: Trent A. Petrie, Ph.D., Scott Martin, Ph.D., Christy Greenleaf, Ph.D., and Jordan Hamson, Ph.D.

Overview: The purpose of this project was to examine the relationship between current levels of physical fitness and a wide-range of psychosocial health factors. During summer 2007, staff from the Center for Sport Psychology conducted fitness testing (using the FITNESSGRAM) with children ages 8-15 who were attending a summer activity program at the Plano Sport Authority in Plano, TX. Fitness testing was done as part of the PSA’s Fit for Fun summer program and provided children and their parents with current measures of aerobic fitness, flexibility, strength, and body composition. Campers ages 11-15 also completed a series of questionnaires designed to measure the psychosocial factors of interest. This study will provide us with data to examine the interaction between children’s levels of involvement in physical activity, nutritional status, and fitness, and how those are related to their self-concept, body image, and current mood state. In addition, we will examine how social pressures and teasing they may have experienced relate to their willingness to be physically active and whether that moderates the potential negative effects on self-concept and body image.

Moderators of the Body Dissatisfaction - Eating Disorder Symptomatology Relationship

Overview: In this study, research conducted by Tylka (2004) was replicated and extended by examining perfectionism (self-oriented and socially prescribed), ego goal orientation, body surveillance, and neuroticism as moderators of the relationship between body dissatisfaction and bulimic and anorexic symptomatology among female undergraduates (N = 398). Hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) was used to test the main and interactive effects of the models as well as allow for the control of physical size and social desirability. As expected, body dissatisfaction was strongly related to the measures of disordered eating, accounting for 16% to 26% of the variance. Two variables (neuroticism and body surveillance) received support as moderators of the relationships between body dissatisfaction and bulimic and anorexic symptoms. Ego goal orientation and socially prescribed perfectionism moderated the effects on bulimic symptoms, whereas self-oriented perfectionism served as a moderator only for anorexic symptoms. In all instances, higher levels of body dissatisfaction paired with higher levels of the moderator were associated with more disturbed eating.

Presented at the 2007 annual convention of American Psychological Association in San Francisco. In press in the Journal of Counseling Psychology.