The Mediating Role of Body Image Concern in Relationship between Celebrity Worship and Avoidance of Forbidden Foods in Students of Sport Sciences

Many undergraduate students of sport sciences are interested in sport celebrities with ideal physical features. In this regard, sport celebrities can influence eating patterns and body image of undergraduate students of sport sciences. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among celebrity worship, avoidance of forbidden foods, and body image concern. In addition, the present research aims to study the mediating role of body image concern on the relationship between celebrity worship and avoidance of forbidden foods. Four hundred undergraduate students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences of the Guilan University responded to the Celebrity Attitude Scale, Avoidance of Forbidden Foods subscale of the Multifactorial Assessment of Eating Disorders Symptoms, and the Body Image Concern Inventory. Correlational and structural analyses were carried out. Avoidance of forbidden foods and body image concern correlated positively with celebrity worship. Moreover, the findings indicated the mediating role of body image concern in the relationship between celebrity worship and avoidance of forbidden foods. Hence, the interest in sport celebrities with ideal physical features may affect eating patterns by influencing the body image of undergraduate students of sport sciences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)