Abstract
Meat ambivalence is defined as conflicting evaluations of an individual’s attitudes toward meat consumption in five key categories: animal, social, sustainability, health, and sensory-based, and has been previously evaluated among healthy adults. Currently, there is no evaluation of meat ambivalence in athletes. The current study aims to evaluate meat ambivalence levels among Division-1 athletes and its effect on dietary choices. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures, this study collected data from a sample of Division-1 athletes. Data included dietary habits, meat ambivalence levels, and perceptions of performance based on food consumption for practice, competition, and weightlifting. Open-ended questions provided deeper insights into athletes’ attitudes and behaviors regarding nutrition and performance.
Ambivalence was high towards meat consumption, particularly in the domains of social (27.52 ± 8.79), health (28.25 ± 7.77), and sensory (28.96 ± 7.70) considerations. Indicative qualitative analysis highlighted tensions between personal preferences and external influences such as coaching advice. Spearman’s correlation analysis (n=10) shows no significant relationship between total ambivalence and protein intake (r=-.228, p=.555) or between total ambivalence (141 ± 33.80) and Healthy Eating Index (HEI).
This study contributes to our understanding of meat ambivalence and its impact on dietary choices and performance perceptions among Division-1 athletes. It lays the groundwork for future interventions aimed at promoting healthier eating habits and optimizing athletic performance.