Correlation between food consumption behaviors and quality of life of Athletes in Nakhon Ratchasima College

Abstract

            The objectives of this research were (1) to study the levels of dietary behaviors among athletes, (2) to investigate their quality of life, and (3) to examine the relationship between dietary behaviors and quality of life. This study utilized a quantitative correlational-survey research design. The target population consisted of 103 registered student-athletes, and data were successfully collected from a sample of 99 participants during field administration. The research instruments included a dietary behavior questionnaire and a quality of--life questionnaire. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient.

            The results of the research revealed that dietary behaviors: for overall nutrition, the highest score ( = 3.52, S.D. = 0.54) was observed. Considering the various aspects of nutrition for health, the next highest scores were for food consumption and health discipline, followed by diet and nutrition in that order. And quality of life : The overall quality of life was at a good level ( = 3.82, S.D. = 0.52). The domain with the highest mean score was social relationships, which was at a very good level, followed by the psychological, physical, and environmental domains, all of which were at a good level, respectively. Relationships: Dietary behaviors were positively correlated with the quality of life of athletes at a statistically significant level of 0.01, with a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.705). However, further analysis of individual aspects showed that dietary discipline and meal patterns had no significant relationship with the environmental domain of quality of life (r = 0.184, p > 0.05).