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Kara M. Montgomery, DrPH, Arnold School of Public Health, Office of Public Health Practice, 800 Sumter Street, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-777-0057, karam@sc.edu, Roger Sargent, PhD, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Health Sciences Building, Columbia, SC 29208, Donna L. Richter, EdD, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Health Sciences Building, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, Sara J. Corwin, MPH, PhD, Office of Public Health Practice, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, and Gary Miller, PhD, Department of Educational Leadership/College of Education, University of South Carolina, Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
A convenience sample of 630 student-athletes at four universities in the Southeast was surveyed to determine cognitive and environmental factors that influence their decision to use dietary supplements and ergogenic aids. Basic diet quality, sources of nutrition/supplement information, supplement use status, attitudes about supplements, and sports nutrition/sport supplement knowledge were assessed using a paper and pencil survey instrument. Both the Social Cognitive Theory and the Stages of Change component of the Transtheoretical Model were used in designing this instrument. Results revealed that a larger proportion of male than female student-athletes reported using supplements and a larger proportion of white than black student-athletes used supplements. The findings also suggest that strength coaches, athletic trainers and parents were more common sources of information that sport coaches or teammates. Also, among both male and female student-athletes, the belief that physiological supplements could increase strength and power is associated with their use. More education regarding dietary supplements is needed among college student-athletes, and both strength coaches and athletic trainers could be utilized for this purpose.
Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives
Keywords: College Students,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.