Determinants of eating disorders symptomatology in Portuguese adolescents

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

Costa C (Author) FCNAUP; Ramos E (Author) FMUP; Severo M (Author) FMUP; Barros H (Author) FMUP; Lopes C (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

Vol. 162 No. 12

Pages: 1126-1132

ISSN: 1072-4710

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 15 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 19 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Other medical sciences

CORDIS: Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-TB5

DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.162.12.1126

Abstract (EN): Objective: To evaluate the association of psychological, biological, social, and familial characteristics and eating disorders symptomatology in 13-year-old Portuguese adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Schools in Porto, Portugal. Participants: Adolescents born in 1990 and attending schools in Porto, Portugal (n = 2036) completed a questionnaire at school containing the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) and Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition. Anthropometrical measurements were also performed. A questionnaire addressing parents' characteristics was sent home with the adolescents. Main Exposure: Psychological, biological, social, and familial characteristics. Main Outcome Measures: Three core EDI subscales. Results: After using multiple regression analyses, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) and depressive symptomatology for both sexes were positively associated with eating disorder symptomatology evaluated by the 3 core EDI subscales (drive for thinness, bulimia, body dissatisfaction). Parents' education had a significant positive effect on girls' drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction scores and a significant negative effect in boys' bulimia and body dissatisfaction scores. Conclusions: Higher body mass index and higher depressive symptomatology were associated with more severe eating disorder symptomatology in both sexes. A sex effect on the association between socioeconomic status and eating disorder symptomatology was found; girls with higher socioeconomic status and boys with lower socioeconomic status presented more eating disorder symptomatology.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific