Introduction
In the domain of sports psychology, the family
unit emerges as a potent force shaping the
comprehensive development of young athletes.
Acknowledged for its profound impact on a
wide array of behaviors, habits, preferences,
and choices, the family stands as the bedrock
of a child’s formative years [1]. This influence
extends seamlessly into the sphere of nutrition,
encompassing not only food choices and portion
sizes but also the nuances of flavor that grace
the palate. In essence, the family constitutes
the primary arena in which a child’s nutritional
foundation is laid, with parents orchestrating this
symphony through their dietary preferences and
behaviors [2].
Furthermore, family involvement transcends the
confines of the kitchen, encompassing the realm
of physical activity. Within these supportive
family environments, children find fertile ground
to cultivate their engagement in sports [3,4].
Understanding the intricate motivations that drive
children’s participation in sports has become a
paramount concern for researchers, coaches, and
parents alike [5]. Consequently, nurturing an
environment conducive to physical activity during
these formative years stands as a pivotal factor in
fostering early engagement in sports [6].
Family members don multiple hats, serving as
role models who profoundly influence a child’s
initiation into sports and physical activity [7].
Positive relationships forged between young
athletes, their families, coaches, and educators
provide fertile soil for their development within
the sports arena [8]. This familial involvement
extends its grasp into the realm of sports program
participation, where it exerts a significant influence
[9]. The familial impact, both within sports and
education, remains particularly pronounced during
critical transitional phases in a child’s life [10].
Eating behaviors, crucial components of a child’s
development, are profoundly shaped by a myriad
of social and family factors. These encompass
cultural values, food availability, portion sizes,
mealtime rituals, feeding styles, and parental
beliefs [11]. The emergence of food acceptance
patterns begins early in life, with childhood
marking a sensitive period for the formation of
food preferences [12]. These preferences, once
ingrained, often persist into adulthood [13], with
adolescents frequently citing food availability as
a pivotal influence on their dietary choices [14].
Notably, parents’ own preferences, beliefs, and
attitudes toward food wield substantial sway
over their children’s eating styles, preferences,
consumption habits, and nutritional knowledge
[15].
During adolescence, a pivotal phase marked by
significant transitions, individuals begin laying
the foundation for lifelong dietary and physical
activity habits [16]. This period often witnesses
a decline in physical activity coupled with an
increase in independence in food choices [17,18].
As adolescents experience rapid growth, adequate
nutrition becomes paramount [19]. Habits
formed during this critical juncture continue to
reverberate, influencing health and susceptibility
to chronic diseases in adulthood [20]. However,
studies exploring the relationship between family
meals and body weight have yielded conflicting
results, with some indicating that family meals
may not be predictive of adolescent overweight
status, while others have pointed to a connection
between fewer family meals and an increased risk
of overweight [21-23].
In the specific context of youth athletes, limited
research has ventured into the realm of sport
nutrition knowledge, behaviors, and beliefs, with
few studies considering factors such as sex, race/
ethnicity, and socioeconomic status [24]. The
majority of research has been centered on elite
athletes, focusing primarily on energy and nutrient
intakes, with none of these studies specifically
examining variations based on sex, race/ethnicity,
or socioeconomic status [25-28]. Furthermore,
family food systems and socioeconomic status
have the potential to significantly impact food
choices within the home environment [29].
The realm of soccer, one of the most beloved
sports on a global scale, offers a distinctive yet
understudied perspective. Despite its widespread
popularity, there is a notable dearth of information
concerning the dietary habits and nutritional
behavior of soccer players, particularly in Saudi
Arabia [30]. Cultural influences wield substantial
power in shaping the dietary choices of soccer
players, with habits cultivated during childhood
carrying forth into adulthood [31]. Research
examining the intricate interplay between family
food systems, Body Mass Index (BMI), and
nutrition knowledge and behavior remains limited,
particularly within the Saudi Arabian context. To
address this significant gap in knowledge and
illuminate the multifaceted connections at play,
this study embarks on an exploration of these intricate dynamics among Saudi youth soccer
players. In doing so, it endeavors to unearth the
unique factors and relationships that characterize
this specific context, shedding light on the nexus
between family dynamics, sports psychology, and
nutrition within the world of youth soccer.
Materials and Methods
A descriptive survey methodology was employed for this study. The study was implemented during the Saudi Youth League for Under-19 Youth in the 2020/19 season. Ethical approval for this study was granted by the research ethics committee at the College of Sport Sciences and Physical Activity, King Saud University, Riyadh. The main purpose of the study, protocol, and procedures were described to all the football players prior to the preliminary measurements. All players signed the written consent form in which they agreed to participate and were informed of the main purpose of the study and risks of participating during the measurements.
Participants
Total of 90 young Saudi football players mean aged 18.06 ± 2.16 participated in the study. Total of 14 clubs competing in the Saudi Youth League, the participants were recruited from five clubs, comprising three from Riyadh, one from Jeddah, and one from Medina, consented to participate in this study.
Anthropometric measurements
Anthropometric assessments were conducted on separate days from players attending the clubs before the collection of urine samples. Measurements of body weight were obtained using a digital scale to the nearest 0.1 kg (Seca 813, Germany), and height was obtained by a stadiometer to the nearest 0.01 cm (Seca 213, Germany). The participants’ Body Mass Index (BMI) was used as a continuous variable or categorized based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (BMI: height in Meters squared/body weight in Kilograms).
Questionnaire
An Arabic questionnaire was developed by the authors. This questionnaire comprises 48 items, these items were categorized into three sections: family food system (11 items), player nutritional knowledge (11 items), and player nutritional behavior (11 items). To assess the questionnaire’s reliability and internal consistency, Cronbach’s alpha was computed. The results indicated high reliability, with values of 0.86 for the family diet system, 0.97 for body mass index, 0.81 for player nutritional knowledge, and 0.88 for player nutritional behavior, with an overall average value of 0.85, affirming the questionnaire’s reliability. To construct the questionnaire, the authors drew upon previous studies addressing similar topics, extracting six sections and 66 sentences. These sections and sentences were then reviewed by eight experts in the field to assess their relevance to the study’s subject matter and to obtain feedback and suggestions for questionnaire improvement. As a result, three sections, namely “diet and friends” and “food temptations in society” were excluded, and amendments were made to 18 sentences.
Statistical analysis
Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 19.0 ((SPSS), Chicago, IL). Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, relative importance, and data summarized as mean ± SD, were employed. Statistical significance was defined at p<0.05. The relationship between family diet system and player nutritional knowledge, player nutritional behavior was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Cronbach’s alpha was also utilized to confirm the reliability of the measurements.
Results
Ninety male football players, representing the Saudi
premier league for Under-19 youth, participated
in this study. The physical characteristics of the
participants are summarized in Table 1. The mean
age was 18.06 ± 1.52 years, with an average
weight of 70.3 ± 5.34 kg, height of 175.41 ± 6.71
cm, and a BMI of 22.38 ± 3.6 kg/m2 (Table 1).
Table 1. Physical characteristics of participants (N=90).
| Physical characteristics |
Mean |
SD |
| Age (years) |
18.06 |
2.16 |
| Weight (kg) |
70.3 |
5.34 |
| Height (cm) |
175.41 |
6.71 |
| Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) |
22.38 |
3.6 |
| BMI percentile for age (boys) |
|
≥ 98th* |
| Note: * BMI percentile was calculated from the UK 1990 reference chart for children and adolescents (boy chart) (Cole et al.,). |
Table 2 presents the mean and standard deviation
for both family food systems (3.03 ± 1.56)
and BMI (22.38 ± 3.6). Notably, a significant
relationship was observed between BMI and the
family food system (r>0.42) (Table 2).
Table 2. The relationship between family food system and body mass index (N=90).
| Variable |
Mean |
SD |
r |
p |
| Family food system |
3.03 |
1.56 |
0.41 |
<0.01 |
| BMI |
22.38 |
3.06 |
In Table 3, the mean and standard deviation for
family food system (3.03 ± 1.56) and nutritional
knowledge (2.44 ± 1.28) are displayed. Pearson
correlation tests revealed statistically significant
associations between family food system and
nutritional knowledge (r>0.38) (Table 3).
Table 3. The relationship between family food system and Knowledge (N=90).
| Variable |
Mean |
SD |
r |
p |
| Family food system |
3.03 |
1.56 |
0.38 |
<0.01 |
| Knowledge |
2.44 |
1.28 |
Table 4 showcases the mean and standard
deviation for family food system (3.03 ± 1.56)
and nutritional behavior (2.71 ± 1.12). The results
demonstrated a significant correlation between
family food system and nutritional behavior
(r>0.29). Statistical significance was established
at p<0.01 (Table 4).
Table 4. The relationship between family food system and behavior (N=90).
| Variable |
Mean |
SD |
r |
p |
| Family food system |
3.03 |
1.56 |
0.29 |
<0.01 |
| Behavior |
2.71 |
1.12 |
Discussion
Within the domain of sports psychology, our study
set out to investigate the intricate relationship
between the family’s dietary patterns and critical
variables, namely BMI, knowledge, and behavior,
within the context of Saudi youth soccer players
competing in the Saudi Premier League for
Under-19 Youth during the 2020/19 season. Our
findings have unveiled a noteworthy and positive
correlation between the family’s dietary patterns
and these pivotal dimensions, corroborating prior
research in this field.
The observed favorable linkage between the
family’s dietary patterns and BMI, meticulously
detailed in Table 2, aligns with a substantial body
of prior studies. Notably, Utter et al., delved
into the connections between the frequency of
family meals and BMI within a diverse student
population, revealing a significant albeit moderate
association between family meals and BMI
[32]. Expanding on this foundation, Das et al.,
conducted an extensive decade-long cohort study
that underscored the significance of communal
family dining. Their research demonstrated that
adolescents who consistently engaged in family
meals were less likely to grapple with issues
related to excess weight or obesity, underscoring
the role of family meals in fostering healthier
weight outcomes. Moreover, Nascimento et al.,
supported this perspective by documenting that a
reduction in the consumption of non-homemade
foods was linked to lower BMI and enhanced
nutritional quality in children. Collectively, these
findings underscore the influence of family meals
in shaping dietary choices and positively affecting
BMI among young athletes.
Table 3 further enriches our understanding
by disclosing a positive association between
the family’s dietary patterns and knowledge,
a discovery that seamlessly aligns with prior
scholarship. Eminent studies, such as the work by
Buscemi et al., have underscored the significance
of family meals and culinary experiences as pivotal
opportunities for acquiring knowledge about food
and the broader food system. Furthermore, across
various studies, the family consistently emerges as
a primary source of food-related knowledge [33-39]. This is corroborated by research conducted by
Manore et al., revealing that high school soccer
players frequently sought nutritional guidance
from family members or medical professionals.
These findings collectively underscore the
pivotal role of the family in shaping nutritional
knowledge, particularly within the realm of sports.
Moreover, our study advances our comprehension
by revealing a positive link between the family’s
dietary patterns and behavior, as evident in Table
4. This alignment with the research conducted by
Utter et al., reinforces the notion that family meals
are associated with various positive facets of the
home food environment and encourage favorable
nutrition-related behaviors. This resonance is
further mirrored in the results of other studies
Nascimento et al., all of which highlight the
influential role of parental behaviors, dietary characteristics, food preferences, and intake
regulation in shaping their children’s dietary
behaviors [40,41].
Conclusion
In this study, we embarked on an exploratory
journey within the field of sports psychology, with
the aim of uncovering the intricate relationship
between the family’s dietary patterns and essential
dimensions, including BMI, knowledge, and
behavior among Saudi youth soccer players.
Based on a rigorous analysis of data obtained from
90 male participants during the Saudi Premier
League for Under-19 Youth in the 2020/19 season,
our findings have illuminated a substantial and
positive association between the family’s dietary
patterns and these key aspects of well-being and
performance.
This study not only deepens our comprehension
of the family’s role in the athletic development
of youth but also underscores the significant
influence of families on the body mass, knowledge,
and behavior of adolescent athletes, particularly
within the context of competitive sports. It
underscores the notion that family meals and the
broader family dietary patterns play a pivotal role
in shaping dietary choices, enhancing nutritional
knowledge, and fostering favorable nutritional
behaviors among young athletes.
As we look to the future, it is imperative that the
field of sports psychology continues to explore
and dissect the nuanced dynamics of family
involvement in athletic development. Future
research should strive to consider intermediate
variables that may influence athletes’ perceptions
of the role and significance of family in their
lives. These variables could include educational
values instilled at home, the composition of the
family unit, the socio-economic and educational
backgrounds of family members, and the quality
of past sports experiences of parents. Furthermore,
researchers should endeavor to employ more
precise and rigorous methods of data collection
to enhance the reliability and robustness of their
findings.
Longitudinal studies, as suggested, are crucial
in uncovering causal relationships between
various factors, such as gender, quality of life,
time dedicated to playing, the economic status
of the club, and travel days or competitions
outside the city. These investigations promise to provide a comprehensive understanding of the
intricate interplay between family dynamics,
sports psychology, and the holistic development
of adolescent athletes. Such knowledge not only
benefits young athletes but also informs strategies
and interventions aimed at optimizing their athletic
performance and overall well-being, ultimately
enriching the field of sports psychology.
Acknowledgements
The authors extend their thankfulness to all. The
authors would like to thank participants, coaches,
and clubs’ managers for facilitating the project.
In addition, they would like to thank King Faisal
University for the participation of their faculty
members in enriching this manuscript.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of
interest with respect to the research, authorship,
and/or publication of this article.
Funding
This research project was supported by a grant
from the research center for the college of sport
science and physical activity and Deanship of
scientific research, King Saud University.
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Citation: Understanding the Influence of Family Dynamics and Sports Psychology on Youth Athlete Nutrition. ASEAN Journal of
Psychiatry, Vol. 24 (10) October, 2023; 1-7.
+44 1752 712024
