Risk of Eating Disorders and Social Desirability among Higher Education Students: Comparison of Nutrition Students with Other Courses

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Fernandes, Sandra (Author) FCNAUP; Costa, Carolina (Author) FCNAUP; Nakamura, I. (Author) FCNAUP; Poínhos, Rui (Author) FCNAUP; Oliveira, B.M.P.M. (Author) FCNAUP

Journal

Title: Healthcare

Vol. 12 No. 2, article 253

Final page: 744

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-AVC

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070744

Abstract (EN): The transition to college is a period of higher risk of the development of eating disorders, with nutrition/dietetics students representing a group of particular vulnerability. Hence, it is interesting to assess eating disorders, taking into consideration potential sources of bias, including social desirability. Our aims were to compare the risk of eating disorders between students of nutrition/dietetics and those attending other courses and to study potential social desirability biases. A total of 799 higher education students (81.7% females) aged 18 to 27 years old completed a questionnaire assessing the risk of eating disorders (EAT-26) and social desirability (composite version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale). The proportion of students with a high risk of eating disorders was higher among females (14.5% vs. 8.2%, p = 0.044). Nutrition/dietetics students did not differ from those attending other courses regarding the risk of eating disorders. The social desirability bias when assessing the risk of eating disorders was overall low (EAT-26 total score: r = -0.080, p = 0.024). Social desirability correlated negatively with the Diet (r = -0.129, p < 0.001) and Bulimia and food preoccupation subscales (r = -0.180, p < 0.001) and positively with Oral self-control (r = 0.139, p < 0.001).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11