Application of the Health Action Process Approach to Abnormal Eating Behavior Among Female Athletes

Abstract

The potential cause of female athlete triad, which is considered a factor in the decline of the competitive performance of female athletes, is abnormal eating behavior. To pursue their competitive lives, addressing abnormal eating behavior without resorting to medicines is necessary for female athletes from the perspective of sports doping. Toward this end, health education interventions that promote behavior change for abnormal eating behavior are required. This study aimed to examine the of the health action process approach (HAPA) to promote behavioral change for abnormal eating behavior among female athletes. Participants included 300 Japanese female athletes, who completed a set of questionnaires on demographic variables, the abnormal eating behavior scale new version, and psychosocial factors constituting HAPA (risk perception, outcome anticipation, self-efficacy, behavioral intentions, and behavioral planning). Results revealed that the HAPA was an applicable model for explaining abnormal eating behavior (GFI = 0.987, AGFI = 0.939, CFI = 0.987, RMSEA = 0.068); however, the explanatory rate for abnormal eating behavior was small, where the only psychosocial factor reducing abnormal eating behavior was self-efficacy for eating behavior. Furthermore, there was no significant effect from negative outcome expectancy on behavioral intention. Therefore, health education interventions for improving abnormal eating behaviors in female athletes should focus on self-efficacy for eating behaviors.