Disordered eating is a pervasive issue in various athletic disciplines, often arising from societal pressures to conform to certain physical ideals. Athletes may develop unhealthy eating habits as they strive for an optimal performance physique, influenced heavily by images circulated in media and peer competition. This study aims to explore how disordered eating intersects with the obsessive behaviors surrounding exercise, resulting in patterns of addiction that can endanger an athlete’s health. By focusing on sports science students, the research zeroes in on a demographic particularly susceptible to these pressures.

Central to this discussion is body image, which refers to an individual’s perceptions and attitudes about their physical appearance. For many athletes, especially in sports where aesthetics are valued, an exaggerated focus on body image can lead to a relentless pursuit of muscularity. This drive for an idealized physique is often informed by unrealistic standards set by media and cultural norms. Within the context of the study, the authors argue that a negative body image can exacerbate tendencies toward disordered eating behaviors, creating a cycle that fuels both exercise addiction and unhealthy nutritional practices.

Moreover, muscularity drive plays a crucial role in how athletes perceive their bodies and their relationships with food. A heightened drive for muscularity may compel individuals to adopt extreme dietary restrictions and exercise regimens. This can lead to a narrow focus on calories burned or consumed, pushing them deeper into addictive exercise behaviors. The study suggests that unhealthy preoccupations with body image and muscularity can create a detrimental feedback loop, amplifying the risks associated with both disordered eating and exercise addiction.

Spiritual well-being, often overlooked in discussions surrounding physical health, emerges as another critical factor in this relationship. The researchers posit that individuals with a strong sense of spiritual health may better resist societal pressures regarding body image and may engage in more balanced eating and exercise habits. Spiritual well-being encompasses factors such as purpose, connectedness, and personal values—all of which can serve as protective elements against the challenges of disordered eating and exercise addiction. This nuance introduces an interesting perspective, positioning spiritual health as a potential buffer in the journey of athletes navigating these psychological predicaments.

A moderated model is presented in this research, elucidating how these interconnected variables operate together to influence the relationship between disordered eating and exercise addiction. The findings indicate that those with negative body image and high muscularity drive are more likely to experience severe disordered eating behaviors and, correspondingly, a greater propensity for exercise addiction. Conversely, athletes who possess a robust spiritual well-being may mitigate some of these risk factors, suggesting a path towards healthier behaviors. This moderated model outlines how the interaction of these psychological constructs can yield different outcomes for athletes.

Understanding the implications of this research is crucial for coaches, trainers, and mental health professionals working with athletes. The findings emphasize the need for a holistic approach to athlete care, one that transcends physical training regimens and nutritional advice. Mental health strategies should be integrated into athletic training programs, addressing issues of body image and muscularity drive while promoting spiritual health. Facilitating environments where athletes can openly discuss these challenges may lead to healthier relationships with food and exercise.

In considering the broader implications of this study, it becomes clear that awareness of these psychological constructs can ultimately empower students in sports science. As they navigate their own experiences with the pressures of competition, a deeper understanding of how body image, muscularity drive, and spiritual well-being intersect can help foster resilience. Educational programs that include psychological literacy may prove beneficial, equipping future athletes and sports professionals with the tools needed to prioritize mental health alongside physical performance.

As this research enters the broader discourse, it echoes the urgent need for conversations about mental health in sports. The stigmatization surrounding disordered eating and exercise addiction often prevents athletes from seeking help. By bringing these topics to the forefront, the authors hope to encourage open discussions that challenge the norms and stigmas associated with mental health struggles in sports contexts.

In conclusion, the study conducted by Şahin, Ayhanci, and Erdem enhances the understanding of how psychological factors like body image and drive for muscularity influence the prevalence of disordered eating and exercise addiction in sports science students. The exploration of spiritual well-being as a moderating factor adds depth and raises important considerations for developing comprehensive mental health strategies in athletic environments. Ultimately, addressing these issues may not only improve the well-being of athletes but can also foster a culture that promotes healthy and sustainable practices in sports.

In light of these findings, stakeholders in the sports community should aim to create an inclusive environment that prioritizes mental health and wellness. Recognizing the signs of disordered eating and exercise addiction, and understanding the contributing factors such as body image and spiritual health, empowers those in the field to take proactive steps. Through collaboration, awareness, and education, the sports community can better support athletes on their journeys toward both physical excellence and psychological well-being.

The study suggests that greater awareness and understanding of the factors influencing disordered eating and exercise addiction could lead to more effective interventions. Sports professionals must prioritize the mental health of athletes, providing resources and support necessary to create a healthy relationship between food, body image, and exercise. There is a growing realization that performance is not solely a product of physical training; rather, it encompasses emotional and psychological dimensions that are just as critical. Ultimately, an approach that embraces holistic athlete care will undoubtedly pave the way for a more inclusive and supportive sports culture.

Subject of Research: The roles of body image, drive for muscularity, and spiritual well-being in disordered eating and exercise addiction among sports science students.

Article Title: The roles of body image, drive for muscularity, and spiritual well-being in the relationship between disordered eating and exercise addiction among sports science students: a moderated model.

Article References:
Şahin, M., Ayhanci, N.N., Erdem, M. et al. The roles of body image, drive for muscularity, and spiritual well-being in the relationship between disordered eating and exercise addiction among sports science students: a moderated model. J Eat Disord 13, 243 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01437-1

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s40337-025-01437-1

Keywords: Disordered eating, exercise addiction, body image, muscularity drive, spiritual well-being, sports science.

However, groundbreaking research from New York University’s Department of Psychology reveals a more nuanced and, perhaps, counterintuitive dynamic at play. This new study, featured in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (JESP), demonstrates that runners leverage focused attentional strategies far more than prolonged existential reflection to push through the toughest phases of their runs. Instead of dwelling on abstract motivations, athletes sharpen their concentration on immediate tasks and proximal targets, which serve as critical stepping stones toward the overarching objective.

Emily Balcetis, the study’s lead author and an associate psychology professor at NYU, elucidates this discovery by highlighting that runners increasingly “keep their goal in sight,” not merely in mind. According to Balcetis, this distinction between maintaining a cognitive representation of the goal and directing visual and attentional resources toward tangible sub-goals is pivotal. She explains that as physical strain mounts, runners do not intensify ruminations about why they should finish; rather, they narrow their attentional focus to manageable fragments of the race, like focusing on the next mile marker or maintaining rhythmic breathing. These complementary yet distinct strategies—goal contemplation and attentional narrowness—operate in tandem to support endurance performance.

The study builds upon earlier work by the same team, which investigated how visual attention modulation could influence athletic output. Their 2025 study demonstrated that narrowing the field of view to emphasize the finish line, as opposed to the broader environment, boosts both exertion and race performance. This cognitive zooming effect appears to reduce distraction and bolster task-specific effort, thereby serving as a self-regulatory mechanism. The new research advances this understanding by decoupling attentional focus from motivational mindset—a nuanced cognitive interplay rarely explored in athletic psychology.

In an extensive survey of nearly 1,000 runners participating across different race formats—including single 10-mile runs and a series of 5-kilometer events—the researchers collected first-person data on attentional scopes and mental framing during races. These participants, ranging from recreational joggers to competitive athletes, reported when they employed “narrow” versus “wide” visual attention and when they switched between “implemental” (how-focused) and “deliberative” (why-focused) mindsets. The granular nature of this self-reported data permitted a sophisticated analysis of how cognitive strategies evolve in real-time under physical duress.

Co-author Jordan Daley, a research fellow at NYU, describes the core differentiation between mindsets: “Implemental mindsets involve the granular, tactical planning necessary to execute goal-directed behavior. This includes pacing, breathing control, and managing physiological states.” Meanwhile, deliberative mindsets revolve around weighing options, considering motivation, and reframing the desirability of continuing. Interestingly, the study found these cognitive modes are relatively stable and bear little correlation with the fluctuations in attentional focus experienced during a race.

Quantitative analysis of the survey responses revealed several illuminating trends. First, faster runners generally began their races with a more constricted attentional focus than slower runners, suggesting that early engagement with precise, task-specific cues may confer a competitive advantage. Furthermore, as all runners progressed through their respective races, there was a marked increase in attentional narrowness, which appears to function as a coping strategy amidst escalating fatigue and environmental challenges.

In contrast to the dynamic variation in attentional focus, shifts between implemental and deliberative mindsets were more gradual and modest. This dissociation underscores a critical insight: attentional scope and motivational mindset operate along independent axes, enabling runners to dynamically tailor cognitive strategies depending on situational demands. This independence allows runners to harness a toolkit of mental approaches rather than rely on any single, static mode of thought.

These findings challenge deeply entrenched assumptions in sports culture about the primacy of goal belief and abstract motivation in overcoming physical hardship. Balcetis emphasizes that “mental muscle” is not primarily about ruminating on the reasons for exertion but about crafting and deploying practical, real-time strategies that facilitate task execution. The cognitive agility to shift into a narrow, action-oriented focus—essentially the “how” rather than the “why”—emerges as the key psychological lever for endurance success.

The significance of distinguishing between these cognitive processes extends beyond marathon running and offers profound implications for broader theories of goal pursuit and self-regulation. The decoupling of attentional focus and mindset points to specialized neural and psychological mechanisms that can be harnessed not just in sports but in any domain requiring sustained effort under pressure—such as academic performance, occupational tasks, and rehabilitation.

This research was made possible with contributions from team members Bradley Tao and Bryce Lexow, both affiliated with NYU’s Social Perception Action and Motivation (SPAM) Lab at the time of data collection. The collaborative effort melded expertise in cognitive psychology, motivational theory, and applied sport science, generating a richly detailed understanding of the mental architecture supporting endurance.

Future research could explore neuroimaging and real-time physiological monitoring to map how brain regions associated with executive control and attentional shifting interact during high-intensity exercise. Such investigations may illuminate the neurobiological substrates underpinning the strategic mental narrowing observed, as well as how motivational mindsets influence persistence at a systemic level.

As the NYC Marathon draws near once more, these insights might inform novel coaching methodologies and mental training regimens, equipping athletes with cognitive tools designed not just to “believe” in their goals but to tactically “see” and execute them in actionable units. Ultimately, success on the marathon course appears less about abstract belief and more about disciplined attentional focus—a revelation that could revolutionize how endurance sports are mentally approached.

Subject of Research: People

Article Title: Keeping the goal in sight and in mind: The association between visual attention and motivational mindsets among runners

News Publication Date: 9-Sep-2025

Web References:

• https://as.nyu.edu/faculty/emily-balcetis.html
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103125001039?dgcid=author
• https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2025/june/runners-improve-performance-by-narrowing-their-visual-focus.html
• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2025.104822

References: Balcetis, E., Daley, J., Tao, B., & Lexow, B. (2025). Keeping the goal in sight and in mind: The association between visual attention and motivational mindsets among runners. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

Keywords: Psychological science, Physical exercise

Traditionally, athletic ability has been defined through objective performance metrics—speed, strength, endurance, or skill in specific sports. However, the subjective perception of athletic ability, or how individuals view their own athletic potential, remains a nebulous concept. Ito et al. challenge this vagueness by examining self-perceptions among a sample of 406 Japanese undergraduate students. The researchers deployed a detailed questionnaire evaluating participants’ perceived competence across 11 sports, ranging from team activities like soccer and basketball to individual disciplines. This approach allowed them to capture a holistic self-assessment rather than isolated skills, offering insight into cumulative athletic self-concept.

The study bridges psychology and physiology by correlating subjective athleticism with personality attributes such as grit—the persistent pursuit of long-term goals despite adversity—resilience, a psychological robustness to bounce back from setbacks, and growth mindset, the belief in the malleability of one’s own abilities through effort. The alignment of higher perceived athletic ability with these traits suggests that internal cognitive frameworks and persistence play a vital role in shaping how athletic potential is internally tuned. In essence, individuals who see themselves as more athletic also tend to embrace challenges, maintain endurance over time, and view abilities as improvable rather than fixed.

Famial and developmental backgrounds emerged as equally potent determinants of subjective athleticism. The study found that participants who perceived themselves as highly athletic were more frequently the youngest siblings in their families. This intriguing dynamic could stem from social modeling—youngest siblings often emulate older siblings’ behaviors, including physical activities, which in turn may boost confidence and perceived competence. The timing of developmental milestones also factored in; individuals who first walked at earlier ages reported higher athletic self-evaluations, hinting at early neuromotor coordination’s impact on later self-perception.

Social feedback constituted another critical pillar in the construction of athletic identity. Participants who were often labeled “athletic” by family, peers, or coaches showed enhanced self-perceptions, underscoring the power of external validation in reinforcing physical self-concept. Furthermore, parental influence was significant, with students from athletic parents tending to rate their own ability higher. This hereditary and environmental overlap suggests that both genetics and upbringing contribute to an internalized athletic narrative.

Economic status, as measured by parental household income, showed a positive association with higher perceived athletic ability. Access to better resources for physical training, nutrition, and extracurricular sports activities likely explains this link. It highlights a socio-economic stratification in the cultivation of both objective skills and self-belief, raising important questions regarding equity in youth sports and physical education programs.

While participants with elevated athletic self-perceptions were invested in physical activities and sports, the study observed an inverse relationship with participation in certain leisure activities such as games and music. This finding suggests distinct behavioral preferences and time allocation patterns among individuals who view themselves as athletic, potentially reflecting identity trade-offs between physical and non-physical domains of engagement.

Importantly, the research team emphasizes that while these findings robustly map correlational relationships, causality remains elusive. It is not yet clear whether personality traits and family factors cultivate perceptions of athletic ability or whether youthful engagement in sports shapes these psychological and social characteristics. Longitudinal studies and experimental designs are needed to unravel these dynamics and distinguish precursors from consequences in athletic self-perception.

The study’s insights carry profound practical ramifications. Understanding the multifaceted components that bolster self-perceived athleticism could inform targeted interventions for promoting physical activity among youth, thereby addressing public health concerns related to sedentary lifestyles. Enhancing internal motivation and resilience, coupled with supportive family and social environments, may empower more young people to embrace active lifestyles and reap associated benefits for mental and physical well-being.

Moreover, the research invites reconsideration of how educators, coaches, and policymakers define and measure athletic ability. Incorporating subjective perceptions alongside objective performance metrics might provide a fuller picture of a young person’s athletic self-concept, facilitating personalized support and coaching strategies that nurture confidence and continual growth.

The discovery that youngest siblings often perceive themselves as more athletic opens a fascinating avenue for future exploration into family dynamics and peer modeling in the development of physical self-esteem. Such findings challenge simplistic, one-dimensional models of athletic identity formation and encourage interdisciplinary approaches that account for psychological, social, and biological layers.

Ito and colleagues’ work thus fundamentally enriches the scientific dialogue on what it means to be “athletic,” advocating for a nuanced understanding that extends beyond physical prowess to encompass the subjective sense of capability shaped by a constellation of life experiences and personality factors. While further research is required to disentangle cause-effect mechanisms, this study sets a new benchmark for rigor and depth in the field.

As we confront rising concerns about youth inactivity and its myriad consequences on public health, insights into how individuals perceive and engage with their athletic potential become critically important. This research unlocks a pathway to foster self-efficacy and durable motivation for physical engagement, heralding promising implications for education, sports psychology, and health promotion programs globally.

By examining self-perceived total athletic ability through a scientific lens, Sho Ito and his team pave the way for innovative interventions tailored to the psychological and social fabric of athletic identity. Their contribution underscores the vital interdependence of mind, environment, and body in shaping how young adults envision their athletic selves, driving forward a transformative agenda in the study of human physicality.

Subject of Research:
Not applicable

Article Title:
Determinants of subjective total athletic ability

News Publication Date:
28-May-2025

Web References:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324044

References:
Ito S, Soga K, Kato K (2025) Determinants of subjective total athletic ability. PLoS One 20(5): e0324044.

Image Credits:
Chris, Unsplash, CC0

Keywords:
Athletic self-perception, subjective athletic ability, grit, resilience, growth mindset, family influence, developmental milestones, social feedback, sports psychology, physical activity motivation, youth sports, subjective physical capability