Newspaper media representations of athlete experiences with eating disorders: a critical discourse analysis

ABSTRACT

Athletes are at a greater risk (13.5%) of developing eating disorders (EDs) compared to the general population (4.6%). Recently, media attention on athletes with EDs has substantially increased. Given the considerable role of the media in shaping our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours, the purpose of this study was to examine dominant discourses surrounding newspaper media portrayals of athletes with EDs. Data were collected using the NexisUni Academic database to search for newspaper articles published from 1 January 2021 to 7 June 2022. We included 154 articles for analysis. We performed a critical discourse analysis to examine what journalists say about athlete experiences with EDs, how such experiences are described, and how this constructs athlete identities (i.e. subject positions). Two key discourses were identified, each composed of underlying subject positions. The first discourse, A discourse of healthism, constructed meanings of who to hold accountable for the ED. Within this discourse were two subject positions: The self-destructive woman athlete and The legitimate athlete. The second discourse, A discourse of reductionism, centralised journalists’ reduction of the complexity of EDs. Underlying this discourse were two subject positions: The denialist man athlete and The (hyper)feminised athlete. Findings reveal how journalists drew upon discourses surrounding the body, food, and sport participation that were limiting for both women and men athletes, thus playing an active role in (re)producing gendered and physical stereotypes about athletes with EDs. These findings highlight the importance of media guidelines to resist and avoid perpetuating such stereotypes.

KEYWORDS:

• Eating disorder
• athlete
• sport
• newspaper media
• media analysis
• critical discourse analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. In our work, we refer to these athletes as ‘women athletes’ as opposed to ‘female athletes’, given the focus on gender and its social construction (rather than biological sex). However, when referencing previous studies, we employ the specific term used by the respective author(s) to describe their participants.

2. When discussing previous literature, we use ‘female/women athletes’ to signal that most research has used these terms interchangeably.

3. We use ‘male/man’ to acknowledge that most research has used these terms interchangeably.

4. We refer to these athletes as ‘man athletes’ as opposed to ‘male athletes’, except for when we reference previous studies, where we employ the specific term used by the respective author(s) to describe their participants.

5. An athlete of the Irish outdoor stick-and-ball sport, similar to the sport of lacrosse.

Additional information

Funding

This study did not receive a specific grant from a funding agency.

Notes on contributors

Olivia Feng

Olivia Feng is a doctoral student studying Sport Psychology in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education at McGill University. Her research interests encompass the psychological and sociocultural influences of eating disorders, particularly among athletes, and how our understanding of such influences can inform eating disorder prevention efforts.

Lindsay R. Duncan

Lindsay R. Duncan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education at McGill University. Her research explores the psychological and sociological factors that influence engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours among athletes and the general population.