Moral Emotions in Motion: A Cross-Sectional Study of Shame, Guilt, and Disordered Eating in UK University Athletes

Plain SummaryThis research investigated eating difficulties in young adult athletes at UK universities, specifically those who play sports but are not elite or professional athletes. Many university students face major life changes, such as moving away from home and managing academic stress, which can affect their relationship with food. Athletes can also feel pressure to look a certain way or perform well in their sport. These pressures may lead to unhealthy eating habits, even if individuals do not have a diagnosed eating disorder.The study focused on eating pathology symptoms (EPS), which include unhealthy eating behaviors such as skipping meals, overeating, or exercising in a harmful way. Researchers have wanted to understand what factors might predict these behaviors in university athletes. They looked at personal characteristics such as gender, age, type of sport played, living situation, and how long someone had been involved in their sport. They also investigated how emotions such as shame and guilt might be linked to eating problems.A total of 130 student-athletes without a clinical diagnosis of an eating disorder completed surveys that measured their eating behaviors and feelings of shame and guilt. The results revealed that athletes who played weight-sensitive sports, such as gymnastics or long-distance running, were more likely to have unhealthy eating behaviors. High levels of shame or guilt were also linked to increased EPS. However, shame and guilt did not explain the connection between the type of sport and EPS.In summary, playing sports where weight or body shape matters and experiencing intense shame or guilt puts young athletes at greater risk for eating problems. This study shows how important it is for universities to create support systems that help student athletes manage these pressures and reduce their risk of developing more serious eating disorders. Background. This research focuses on subclinical eating pathology symptoms (EPS) in young adult university athletes, addressing a gap in studies involving nonelite athletes. Social transitions, athletic and academic pressures, body shame, and participation in weight-sensitive sports contribute to an elevated risk of EPS. This study aims to examine how demographic factors (gender, age, type of sport, living arrangements, and duration of membership) and adverse moral emotions (shame and guilt) predict EPS. Additionally, it investigates whether shame and guilt mediate the relationship between sport type and EPS. Methods. Participants (N = 130), excluding individuals with clinical eating disorders, completed validated self-report measures: the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory and the State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS). Ethical approval was granted by the Department of Psychology Research Ethics Committee at the University of Exeter (Reference: 8485441). The study was prospectively registered on the OSF prior to data collection (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/5R3T8). Results. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that participation in weight-sensitive sports and higher scores on the SSGS were significant positive predictors of EPS. Mediation analysis indicated no significant indirect effect of shame or guilt on the relationship between sport type and EPS. Conclusion. These findings suggest that involvement in weight-sensitive sports and high levels of shame and guilt are key risk factors for EPS in young adult athletes. Conversely, participation in non-weight-sensitive sports appears to serve as a protective factor. This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and increased awareness of subclinical eating pathology in this population.