Food & Nutrition

Arab Journal of Food & Nutrition
112. The Effect of Food System on the Psychological States of Athletes
Performance (2009)
Al-Sharairi, Areen Abd AlQader/Yarmouk University
Supervisor: Dr. Mazin Hatamleh
The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of food system on the
psychological states of national Jordanian athletes performance according to (gender,
age, and type of sports). Participants were (97) athletes (M= 59 , F= 38 ) representing
different single sports ( Swimming, Tennis, Body building, Boxing, Taekwando and
Gymanist. Whereas grouping sports represent ( Handball, Basketball and Vollyball).
Athletes of this study were preparing to participate in the pan-Arab tournament,
and for the international Asian championship for the year 2007. Data was collected
through the use of questionnaire and a form development by the researcher.
The questionnaire consisted of (76) items divided into four subscales representing
the psychological states. (Health, tension and anxiety, attention and
concentration, and aggressiveness) of athletes. According to food questionnaire, 3-dayrecord
was used including (breakfast, Lunch, and dinner) meals separated into three
different days. Food Processor program was officially used to indicates the daily
nutrients intake.
Descriptive statistics were employed as well as independent T-test, mean,
standard deviation, ANOVA, Tukey test and Persson correlation) and kraunbach alpha
to check the stability of the tool.
Result showed that athletes who were consistent with regularity of food intake
were among male, age group (11-17) yeas old in single sports. The quality and type of
food intake were among female, age group (11 -17 and 23-27) years old in single
sports.
The finding showed that the effect of psychological states variables (health,
attention and concentration) according to gender were in favor of female athlete, and
according to type of sport in favor of grouping sports, and according to age were in
favor of age group (18-22) years old.
Finally, the results showed that the amount of nutrients in food that athletes
needed for energy, vitamin A, C, E, pyridoxine (B6), Cobalamine (B 12) magnesium
and potassium were less than supposed to have, while protein, Niacin (B3) and Iron
were higher than needed. Negative correlation were found between food intake and
health, and tension and anxiety while positive relation were found between attention
and concentration and food intake, and no relation were found between food and
aggression.
There researcher recommend that understanding athletes need a proper of
nutrients to develop better performance and to enhance psychological health of
athletes. Many studies were needed it this field.
Volume 11, No. 25, 2011
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