Disordered Eating and Exercise Addiction Among Former Student-Athletes: Contribution of Athletic Experience and Personality

Background/Objectives: Sport retirement entails many adjustments for varsity student-athletes, including changes in identity and body-related experiences, potentially increasing their vulnerability to disordered eating (DE) and exercise addiction. This study aimed to (1) compare the severity of DE and exercise addiction symptoms between former varsity student-athletes and former non-athlete students, and (2) examine whether the associations between personality traits and these symptoms differ across groups. Methods: A total of 88 former varsity student-athletes and 69 former non-athlete students completed an online questionnaire between January and September 2025. Results: Former student-athletes reported more symptoms of exercise addiction (p = 0.025), a tendency to report lower DE associated with drive for muscularity (p = 0.074), and similar levels of DE associated with drive for thinness and symptoms of orthorexia (p = 0.273 and p = 0.376, respectively) compared to the control group. Furthermore, perfectionism was significantly associated with all dependent variables. Moderation analyses revealed significant interactions between perfectionism and group (p = 0.048 for drive for thinness and p = 0.044 for drive for muscularity), indicating that the association between perfectionism and DE associated with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity is significant in the control group but not in former student-athletes. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need to prevent and detect symptoms of exercise addiction as well as different forms of DE throughout an athletic career and during retirement. Interventions targeting perfectionism, such as fostering acceptance of body-related experiences, clarifying personal values, and developing greater body awareness, may help support student-athletes and reduce vulnerability to exercise addiction and DE.