Date of Award
1-1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Nutrition and Hospitality Management
First Advisor
Melinda Valliant
Second Advisor
Corbit Franks
Third Advisor
Thomas Andre
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Collegiate athletes are faced with the challenge of maintaining optimal performance outcomes in spite of their demanding training schedules. As a result, athletes rely on recovery strategies such as nutrition and adequate sleep to optimize their recovery in these shortened windows. This study aimed to explore the relationship between dietary intake, sleep, and athletic performance in female collegiate athletes (N=27) using dietary recalls analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research, self-reported sleep data, and data collected using PERCH devices. Twenty-seven current members of a collegiate softball team participated in the data collection throughout their fall season (August – December). Results of the study showed that 77% of participants were categorized as having low energy availability and only one participant met their recommended carbohydrate intake, suggesting that athletes in this population are not following published recommendations for overall caloric or macronutrient intake. No statistically significant relationships were found between energy availability, sleep, and nutrient intake on performance. Further investigation is required to validate these results in female collegiate softball athletes.
Recommended Citation
Brooks, Derionne, "The Relationship Between Nutrient Intake and Performance Recovery in NCAA Softball Athletes" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2793.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2793