Work

Distance runners’ stories of sport injury and disordered eating

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Extending previous research, this study examines distance runners' narrative accounts of sport injury and disordered eating, highlighting how these experiences intersect and unfold across their athletic careers. METHODS: Ten regional to international level distance runners participated, who had experienced a range of injuries throughout their career (e.g., acute, chronic, overuse, career-ending). Life-story interviews (n = 28) and visual methods (i.e., photographs) were used to facilitate the participants in telling their stories. Data were analysed using dialogical narrative analysis and represented through creative-non-fiction. RESULTS: Framed within narrative theory and taking a thick social-relational perspective, five stories were constructed that illustrate the complex and nuanced relationship between sport injury and disordered eating over time: Is it good for me?, I know I've gone too far, Maybe it wasn't too late for me?, Is this what normal feels like?, and I love food too much. CONCLUSION: This study deepens understanding of how injury and disordered eating unfold within performance-oriented cultures, pointing toward more supportive narrative and relational possibilities, and provides pedagogical resources that can promote a shared understanding across interdisciplinary practitioners who aim to work collaboratively to support athletes' well-being.

Source: Psychology of sport and exercise

DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103197

Authors: Freya Davis, Ross Wadey, Ciara Everard, Stacy Winter, Melissa Day

Institutions: Curtin University, St Mary's University Twickenham London, Trinity College Dublin, University of Chichester

Language: English

Topic: Eating Disorders and Behaviors

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,570