TY - JOUR
T1 - Change in eating disorder attitudes and behavior in college women
T2 - Prevalence and predictors
AU - Berg, Kelly C.
AU - Frazier, Patricia
AU - Sherr, Laura
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2009/8
Y1 - 2009/8
N2 - Although there is evidence suggesting that disordered eating is common among female college students, there is little research on whether these behaviors increase during college. This study examined change in eating disorder (ED) symptoms in undergraduate women, and the relationship between change in ED symptoms and change in risk factors. Participants (N = 186) completed measures of ED symptoms (i.e., bingeing, purging, and bulimic attitudes) and risk factors (i.e., academic stress, body dissatisfaction, depression, self-esteem, and social insecurity) at two time points, two months apart. ED symptoms were common, with 49% and 40% of the sample endorsing disordered eating an average of at least once per week at Time 1 and Time 2, respectively. Mean scores decreased on all ED symptoms and risk factors except bingeing. However, individual change scores indicated that ED symptoms and risk factors did not change reliably for most women. When change occurred, decreases in symptoms were more common than increases. The most consistent predictors of decreases in ED symptoms were increases in body satisfaction and self-esteem.
AB - Although there is evidence suggesting that disordered eating is common among female college students, there is little research on whether these behaviors increase during college. This study examined change in eating disorder (ED) symptoms in undergraduate women, and the relationship between change in ED symptoms and change in risk factors. Participants (N = 186) completed measures of ED symptoms (i.e., bingeing, purging, and bulimic attitudes) and risk factors (i.e., academic stress, body dissatisfaction, depression, self-esteem, and social insecurity) at two time points, two months apart. ED symptoms were common, with 49% and 40% of the sample endorsing disordered eating an average of at least once per week at Time 1 and Time 2, respectively. Mean scores decreased on all ED symptoms and risk factors except bingeing. However, individual change scores indicated that ED symptoms and risk factors did not change reliably for most women. When change occurred, decreases in symptoms were more common than increases. The most consistent predictors of decreases in ED symptoms were increases in body satisfaction and self-esteem.
KW - College students
KW - Eating disorders
KW - Longitudinal studies
KW - Risk factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68049114775&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=68049114775&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2009.03.003
DO - 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2009.03.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 19665094
AN - SCOPUS:68049114775
SN - 1471-0153
VL - 10
SP - 137
EP - 142
JO - Eating Behaviors
JF - Eating Behaviors
IS - 3
ER -