Help-Seeking for Eating Pathology Among Collegiate Athletes: Examining Stigma and Perfectionism as Moderating and Mediating Mechanisms

in Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

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Shelby J. Martin Ohio University

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Timothy Anderson Ohio University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2018-0098
Keywords:
athletes; eating pathology; help-seeking; stigma; negative perfectionism
First Published Online:
18 Oct 2019
In Print:
Volume 14: Issue 3
Page Range:
234–250
Restricted access

Despite elevated risk of eating pathology (EP) among athletes, utilization of EP-treatment among athletes is low. Factors that may inhibit EP-help-seeking among athletes include perceived social stigma, self-stigma, and perfectionism. Heightened stigma associated with EP and sport climates may be exacerbated by negative perfectionism characteristic of athletes and decrease intentions to seek help for EP. We tested the following moderated-mediation model among a sample of collegiate athletes (N = 201) via online questionnaires: EP indirectly relates to EP help-seeking intentions through perceived and self-stigma and these relations are conditional on negative perfectionism. EP help-seeking intentions were negatively associated with EP severity, stigma, and negative perfectionism. EP was related to eating-specific help-seeking intentions through perceived social stigma, influencing self-stigma, but this was not moderated by negative perfectionism. Targeting mental-health treatment stigma among athletes may reduce risk of untreated EP among collegiate athletes.

The authors are with the Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH.

Address author correspondence to Shelby J. Martin at sm221714@ohio.edu.
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