class (3.8%). The highest level of competition before attending college for most gymnasts

was Level 10 (62.8%; the highest competitive level before Elite) followed by Elite

(28.2%), Level 9 (5.1%), and Level 8 (1.3%), while 2.6% did not report their highest

level of competition. During the current season, 29.5% of the gymnasts competed on

vault, 29.5% competed on uneven bars, 33.3% competed on balance beam, 30.8%

competed on floor exercise, and 25.6% competed in the all-around (i.e., all four events).

Nine percent (n = 7) of the gymnasts did not compete due to an injury; therefore these

seven gymnasts were excluded from the repeated measures analysis because they did not

take part in the competitive season.

 Reliability of the Study Measures

 Reliability of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 subscales and the Social Physique

Anxiety Scale were established by calculating a coefficient of internal consistency (alpha;

Cronbach, 1951) for each measure for the Time 1 and Time 2 assessments. Alpha

increases as the number of variables increases; therefore, there is no set limit for an

acceptable alpha value. George and Mallery (2001), however, recommended the

guidelines presented in Table 4-1 to interpret the reliability of a measure.

Table 4-1. Guidelines to Interpret the Reliability of a Measure
Alpha Vaules Interpretation

 > .9 Excellent
 > .8 Good
 > .7 Acceptable
 > .6 Questionable
 > .5 Poor
 < .5 Unacceptable