Thesis
Knowledge of the Female Athlete Triad (TRIAD) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) among coaches of high school female runners
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Spring 2024
DOI: 10.25820/etd.007322
Abstract
Background: Female endurance athletes face heightened risk of the female athlete triad (the Triad) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), conditions arising from low energy availability. However, little is known about the knowledge of RED-S among high school running coaches who work with these female runners. Purpose: The purpose of this needs assessment study was to quantify the knowledge, confidence, impact, and educational training that high school running coaches who work with female athletes have of RED-S to determine if a RED-S coaching education intervention is needed for this population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that examined RED-S knowledge, confidence, impact, and educational training among Midwest high school (Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) coaches who work with female runners. Midwest coaches were recruited through mass emails and word of mouth. Subjects’ participation included a one-time completion of an online validated questionnaire via REDCap. Descriptive statistics analyzed knowledge, confidence, and impact scores, as well as educational training. Unpaired t-tests were used to assess associations with participant characteristics. Statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) from bivariate analyses were included in a multivariable linear regression model. Qualitative procedures were used to analyze the open-ended responses. All open-ended questions were content analyzed, adopting an inductive coding strategy. Responses were then categorized into themes and assessed for frequency. Results: Coach respondents (n=151) had a mean total knowledge score of 14.67 ± 6.79 (possible range -37 to +37), a mean total confidence score of 85.26 ± 20.9 (possible range of 0 to +130), and a mean total impact score of 10.94 ± 4.7 (possible range of 0 to +148). Notably, male coaches, non-former runners, head coaches, and those unfamiliar with the Triad and RED-S exhibited the lowest knowledge, confidence, and impact scores. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of education for coaching staff in identifying, treating, and preventing RED-S among high school female runners. Future research should explore effective educational strategies for high school coaching populations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Knowledge of the Female Athlete Triad (TRIAD) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) among coaches of high school female runners
- Creators
- Mackenzie Unke
- Contributors
- Kara Whitaker (Advisor)Lucas Carr (Committee Member)Jessica Gorzelitz (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Health and Human Physiology
- Date degree season
- Spring 2024
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.007322
- Number of pages
- vii, 62 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2024 Mackenzie Unke
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/23/2024
- Description illustrations
- tables
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 46-48).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Background: Adolescent females who run for sport are more likely to have health problems like the female athlete triad (the Triad) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). However, little is known about what high school coaches who work with this population know about the Triad and RED-S. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out how much these coaches know, how confident they feel, and how much training they have had about the Triad and RED-S. We also wanted to see if coaches need more training to better help their athletes. Methods: High school running coaches in the Midwest were surveyed about RED-S. We recruited coaches through emails and word of mouth. Surveys assessed how much coaches knew, how confident they felt, and how much training they had. We also looked at how different coach characteristics (e.g., coach’s gender) were related to what they knew and how confident they felt. Results: We found that most coaches had limited knowledge about RED-S. Male coaches, those who don’t have a history of running for sport, head coaches, and those who weren’t aware of the Triad and RED-S, had the least knowledge. Conclusion: These data suggest that it’s important for coaches to receive additional training on RED-S so they can better help their athletes and reduce health problems. More research is needed to find out the best ways to teach high school coaches about RED-S.
- Academic Unit
- Health and Human Physiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984647254602771
Metrics
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