Physiological Responses Between Female Athletes Vs Non-athletes To Body Image, Nutrition, And Mental Health Inquiries

INTRODUCTION: Participation in college athletics poses numerous demands on females. Not only are there academic demands to remain eligible for competition, but also physical and mental demands that often go unnoticed. It is understandable how one's nutrition, body image, and mental health are often ignored, causing issues in all three categories. PURPOSE: Evaluate physiological responses between female collegiate athletes and female collegiate non-athletes responding to surveys regarding body image, mental health, and nutrition. METHODS: Study consisted of 30 females at The University of Akron (15 athletes and 15 traditional students) between the ages of 18-24 yrs. Informed consent was obtained prior to participation. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured before, during, and after completing the surveys. HR was measured using a finger pulse oximeter. Once resting HR was obtained, resting BP was taken using a BP cuff and stethoscope. All participants were given the same surveys, consisting of questions relating to self-image, nutrition, and mental health. Surveys were completed in the following order: Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire, Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, Fear of Negative Appearance Evaluation, Eating Disorders Inventory, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Surveys were completed one at a time. After the first three surveys were complete, HR and BP measurements were taken. Then, the final three surveys were administered, and HR and BP measurements were repeated. RESULTS: Repeated Measures ANOVA showed significant differences in SBP across time for all subjects (p = 0.003), across time for athletes (p = 0.011) but not between athletes and non-athletes (p = 0.659). No significant differences were observed in HR for any variables. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, athletes were more influenced by the contents of the surveys, leading to greater increases in heart rate and blood pressure as compared to non-athletes. Awareness of the physiological changes regardless of being an athlete or not, any participant could be going through struggles with body image, nutrition, and mental health. Increased scrutiny of athletes should be taken into consideration in regard to the factors studied.