Eating Attitudes of College Students

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence of eating attitudes in college students and risk factors relating to disordered eating. Methods: Data were collected from 2,564 (1,458 male, 1,106 female) students in 2002 and 2,552 (1,556 male, 996 female) in 2010, using EAT-26 (Eating Attitudes Test-26), SDS (Zung Depression Scale) and CISS (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation). Results: Students with high scores of EAT (high-EAT) were 13 males (0.9%), 21 females (1.8%) in 2002 and 10 males (0.7%), 20 females (2.0%) in 2010. High-EAT females were more than males in 2002 and 2010. In 2002, scores of emotional coping of CISS (CISS-E) and avoidance coping of CISS (CISS-A) were significantly higher in high-EAT males and SDS and CISS-E in high-EAT females. In 2010, scores of SDS were significantly higher in high-EAT males and CISS-E in females. After psychiatric interviews with students who showed high scores of EAT-26, we found only 16.6% in male and 20% in female as eating disorders. Conclusion : The study shows associations between disordered attitudes of eating, depressive symptoms and non-adaptive coping styles for stressful situations. However, it is a question whether EAT-26 is useful for screening.