Emotional Regulation and Risk of Eating Disorders in Adolescent Athletes

Bibliographic Data

ID16945642
AuthorsSilvia P Espinoza-Barrón (0000-0002-9448-3175, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León), Abril Cantú Berrueto (0000-0001-6168-1354, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León), María Á Castejón (0000-0001-5636-0775, Universidad Católica de Murcia), Rosendo Berengüí (0000-0003-0428-3186, Universidad Católica de Murcia, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume15
Issue9
Pages188
Publication date2025-09-18
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2174-8144 • E-ISSN: 2254-9625
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/ejihpe15090188
PMID41002769
OpenAlexW4414334089
LanguageEN
References cited34

Eating Disorders (EDs) are more prevalent among athletes due to performance pressure and body ideals. Emotional regulation is a key factor in ED. This study aimed to (1) examine the reliability and structural validity of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (ERQ-CA) in adolescent Mexican athletes, and (2) analyze associations between emotional regulation strategies (expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal) and ED risk factors (drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and bulimia). An instrumental, cross-sectional design was employed with 295 Mexican athletes (Mage = 16.85, SD = 3.27). The ERQ-CA demonstrated good psychometric properties, with acceptable reliability (ω > 0.70) and excellent fit for the two-factor model (CFI = 0.995, RMSEA = 0.018). Emotional suppression was positively associated with all ED risk indicators, whereas cognitive reappraisal was negatively associated. These findings highlight that individual differences in emotion regulation are linked to ED risk in adolescent athletes. Monitoring expressive suppression and promoting cognitive reappraisal may serve as supportive strategies for coaches, parents, and mental health professionals, enhancing emotional flexibility and potentially reducing ED risk

Athletes · Cognition · Cognitive reappraisal · Eating disorders · Emotional Regulation · Expressive Suppression · Structural equation modeling · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Eating Disorders and Behaviors

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