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Moving from Knowledge to Action: A Qualitative Study of Elite Coaches' Capacity for Early Intervention in Cases of Eating Disorders

Nowicka, Paulina ; Eli, Karin ; Ng, Janet ; Apitzsch, Erwin LU and Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn (2013) In International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching 8(2). p.343-355
Abstract
This study investigates elite coaches' attitudes toward eating disorders (ED), knowledge about ED, and early intervention skills when confronted with possible ED in their female athletes. We interviewed 18 coaches in Sweden responsible for athletes representing national teams in the three sports categories most at risk for ED: aesthetic, weight class, and endurance. The interviews revealed that, although most coaches knew athletes with ED, they did not perceive ED as a problem in their sport. The majority of coaches cited difficulties in identifying ED symptoms, especially symptoms associated with bulimia nervosa. Coaches also described several barriers in approaching the athletes, including the athletes' denial of ED, lack of female... (More)
This study investigates elite coaches' attitudes toward eating disorders (ED), knowledge about ED, and early intervention skills when confronted with possible ED in their female athletes. We interviewed 18 coaches in Sweden responsible for athletes representing national teams in the three sports categories most at risk for ED: aesthetic, weight class, and endurance. The interviews revealed that, although most coaches knew athletes with ED, they did not perceive ED as a problem in their sport. The majority of coaches cited difficulties in identifying ED symptoms, especially symptoms associated with bulimia nervosa. Coaches also described several barriers in approaching the athletes, including the athletes' denial of ED, lack of female colleagues on the team and the lack of easily accessible resources for treatment referral on both the national sports federation and the club levels. This study reveals that elite coaches have insufficient capacity to identify ED and conduct early intervention, resulting in delayed treatment. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Attitudes, Early Intervention, Eating Disorders, Elite Sport Coaches, Sport Nutrition
in
International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching
volume
8
issue
2
pages
343 - 355
publisher
Multi-Science Publishing
external identifiers
  • wos:000320708700011
  • scopus:84879345304
ISSN
1747-9541
DOI
10.1260/1747-9541.8.2.343
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d536117a-4a5b-4c25-9181-11e89513caee (old id 3983204)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:37:34
date last changed
2022-03-27 18:01:44
@article{d536117a-4a5b-4c25-9181-11e89513caee,
  abstract     = {{This study investigates elite coaches' attitudes toward eating disorders (ED), knowledge about ED, and early intervention skills when confronted with possible ED in their female athletes. We interviewed 18 coaches in Sweden responsible for athletes representing national teams in the three sports categories most at risk for ED: aesthetic, weight class, and endurance. The interviews revealed that, although most coaches knew athletes with ED, they did not perceive ED as a problem in their sport. The majority of coaches cited difficulties in identifying ED symptoms, especially symptoms associated with bulimia nervosa. Coaches also described several barriers in approaching the athletes, including the athletes' denial of ED, lack of female colleagues on the team and the lack of easily accessible resources for treatment referral on both the national sports federation and the club levels. This study reveals that elite coaches have insufficient capacity to identify ED and conduct early intervention, resulting in delayed treatment.}},
  author       = {{Nowicka, Paulina and Eli, Karin and Ng, Janet and Apitzsch, Erwin and Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn}},
  issn         = {{1747-9541}},
  keywords     = {{Attitudes; Early Intervention; Eating Disorders; Elite Sport Coaches; Sport Nutrition}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{343--355}},
  publisher    = {{Multi-Science Publishing}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching}},
  title        = {{Moving from Knowledge to Action: A Qualitative Study of Elite Coaches' Capacity for Early Intervention in Cases of Eating Disorders}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.8.2.343}},
  doi          = {{10.1260/1747-9541.8.2.343}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}