Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

1-1-2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Nutrition and Hospitality Management

First Advisor

Melinda W. Valliant

Second Advisor

Yunhee Chang

Third Advisor

Hyun-Woo (David) Joung

School

University of Mississippi

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

Interdisciplinary teams are essential in the care of collegiate athletes. However, interdisciplinary teams may be composed of members who place utility in key athletic attributes differently. To better understand the differences in utilities various members place on athletic attributes, this study explored the relative importance of attributes in wide receivers (WR), and part-worth utilizes among levels of an attribute through an Adaptive Choice Based Conjoint (ACBC) study. Interdisciplinary team member involved in the care of college football players, including athletic trainers (ATs), ball coaches (BCs), strength and conditioning coaches (S&C), and sports dietitians (SN) were identified from 131 D1 collegiate football athletic programs via athletic department staff directories. Identified participants were asked to complete a survey with demographic questions and a series of ACBC tasks. Hierarchical Bayes analysis was used to estimate relative importance scores of attributes, and part-worth utilities for levels within attributes. Key attributes identified to influence choice included race, height, weight, percent body fat, 40-yd dash (40YD) time, affiliated conference, injury status, and nutritional status. The most important attribute considered by participants overall was injury status accounting for 25.59%; 95% CI [24.67, 26.51] of choice, followed by the 40YD time at 18.65% (5.87); 95% CI [17.82, 19.47]. The importance of height, weight, body fat percentage and nutritional status on choice varied among ATs, BC, SN, and S&C. The overall least important attribute considered in choice was race, 1.82% (1.47); 95% CI [1.61, 2.03]. Injury status and 40YD are the most important considerations for WR among ATs, BCs, SN, and S&C in this choice experiment. Nutrition status was as important as weight and body fat percentage on influencing choice for both SN, and BCs. Height, weight, and body fat percentage were more important drivers of choice to ATs, and S&C.

Concentration/Emphasis

Food and Nutrition Services

Available for download on Friday, February 07, 2025

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