Associations between eating disorder symptoms and psychological and behavioral problems in adolescents

Objective To investigate the status of eating disorders among adolescents, as well as explore the relationship between eating disorders and psychological and behavioral problems.

Methods A total of 1 358 adolescents and their parents were recruited from 4 high schools in Shanghai by convenient cluster sampling.Both adolescents and parents were requested to fill the questionnaire.The symptoms of eating disorders were measured with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26).The ADHD symptoms were assessed by ADHD Rating Scale Ⅳ-Home Version.Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess psychological and behavioral problems.Multivariate linear regression was applied for analysis of the relationship between eating disorders and psychological and behavioral problems in adolescents.

Results The prevalence rate of eating disorder symptoms was 12.81%, of which 15.36% were for girls and 10.37% for boys.The difference was significant between girls and boys (χ²=7.55, P < 0.05).Multivariate regression analysis showed that adolescent′s gender (b=2.18, P < 0.01), BMI (b=0.21, P < 0.05), ADHD symptoms (b=0.14, P < 0.05), positive/negative emotional overeating (b=0.33, P < 0.05;b=0.41, P < 0.05) proved to be significantly associated with the symptoms of eating disorder.

Conclusion Gender, BMI, behavioral problems such as ADHD and emotional overeating prove to be significantly linked with the eating disorder symptoms in adolescents. Psychological and behavioral problems should be fully considered in the intervention and treatment of eating disorders.