Abstract
Eating disorders (ED) include behaviours oriented towards the drive for thinness, but also the drive for muscularity. Limited studies have focused on ED symptoms among NextGen athletes. These athletes compete at the international levels but are not yet part of national teams and have fewer financial and psychological resources compared to national athletes. The present study aimed to identify personal risk factors and types of sports associated with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity in NextGen athletes. 254 NextGen athletes completed an online questionnaire. Personal risk factors and type of sports were analyzed using multiple linear regressions to determine their association with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. Results indicated that perfectionist aspirations during training, not being in school, and not having a job were linked to a stronger drive for thinness. Factors associated with a greater drive for muscularity included being a male athlete, participating in team sports, weight category sports, or endurance sports (as opposed to aesthetic sports), having elite status, being less satisfied with one's current sporting performance, and having higher perfectionist aspirations during training. Thus, it seems that focusing only on sporting career could foster the development of a unique athletic identity, which would require, among other things, a bodily identification with the role of athlete. This, in turn, could contribute to the development of ED symptoms. This study provides new insights regarding the reality of ED symptoms in NextGen athletes, laying the groundwork for deeper exploration and the development of targeted interventions.
