Date of Award
5-2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Nutrition
Committee Chair/Advisor
Kunkel, Beth
Committee Member
Delicio , Gail
Committee Member
Kemper , Karen
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Participants in this study were 95 Clemson University student-athletes who were currently on the varsity men's and women's soccer, tennis, track and field, and swimming and diving who completed a survey on nutrition knowledge and attitudes.
The mean total point score on the survey was 17.48 + 1.71. The mean score on knowledge questions on the survey was 11.59 + 3.14 or 46.3%. Females had a slightly higher mean score (12.3+ 3.03 or 49.2%) than males (10.9 + 3.13 or 43.6%) on the knowledge questions. The mean score on attitude questions was 5.89+ 1.67 or 58.9%. Females had a slightly higher mean score (6.19 + 1.53 or 61.9%) than the males (5.60 + 1.76 or 56%) on the attitude questions. A multiple regression analysis for impact of sport, gender, class rank, previous nutrition course, and eating situation on total score on the survey gave an overall R2 of 0.174 (F= 3.75, p= 0.004). There was no significant unique effect of class rank (p = 0.084), sport (p= 0.079), and eating situation (p= 0.079) for this model. The unique effect of gender (p= 0.003) and taking a nutrition course (p= 0.036) were statistically significant. Even though the proposed model was statistically significant, it did not adequately predict performance on the survey. The model predicted that females were to score 2.5 points higher on the survey than males and that those who reported taking a nutrition course in the past were to score 1.7 points lower than those who had not taken a nutrition course. This most likely reflects the relatively small number who reported having taken a nutrition course. Additional studies should include additional attitude questions and further define the role of nutrition education on knowledge and attitudes of student-athletes.
Recommended Citation
Dunnigan, Ashley, "Nutrition Knowledge and Attitudes Among Clemson University Student-Athletes" (2010). All Theses. 802.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/802