Knowledge of and attitudes towards eating disorders in late adolescence: a preliminary study Anna Brytek-Matera, Ewa Bobrska, Kamila Czepczor, Katarzyna Kościcka University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Katowice
Prevalence Eating disorders occur in approximately 9% of the total population (Weltzin et al., 2005) Western countries: Female: 0.3 – 2.2% Male: 0.16% - 0.3% (Hoek and van Hoeken, 2003; Favaro et al., 2004; Keski-Rahkonen et al., 2007)
Prevalence Poland: Anorexia nervosa 0.8% and 1.8% ( Namysłowska , 1997) Bulimia nervosa Female: 0.34% and 1.5% Male: 0% to 0.70% (Ricciardelli and McCabe, 2004; Bąk , 2008)
Aim of the study The first purpose was to evaluate eating disorder attitudes and behaviours as well as knowledge about eating disorders in late adolescent women and men. The second purpose was to assess the relationship between measurable variables in both groups.
Hypotheses H1 : Female adolescents will present more attitudinal and behavioural features of eating disorder psychopathology in comparison with male adolescents. H2 : Female adolescents’ knowledge of issues relevant to eating disorders will be higher than male adolescents’ . H3 : Knowledge about eating disorder psychopathology will be negatively associated with attitudes and behaviours related with eating disorders.
Participants Female Male N = 34 N = 32 Age 20.15 years ( SD = 1.72) 20.92 years ( SD = 2.38) Both groups were screened for the absence of eating disorders (adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa were excluded).
Materials The Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire ( Fairburn and Beglin, 1994) assesses the core attitudinal features of eating disorders psychopathology and is composed of four dimensions: dietary restraint shape concerns weight concerns eating concerns.
Materials The Eating Disorders Awareness Test (Schmidt et al., 1995) assesses awareness of the risks and maintaining factors of eating disorders.
Results Table 1. Means and standard deviations for measured variables in female and male adolescents Measure Female Male adolescents adolescents M ± SD M ± SD p EDE-Q .85 ± 1.17 .52 ± .66 Restrain .337 .28 ± .58 Eating concern .68 ± 1.34 .291 Weight concern 2.07 ± 1.73 .94 ± .99 .025 Shape concern 1.73 ± 1.66 .65 ± .75 .028 EDAT 31.92 ± 5.44 24.71 ± 6.57 .000
Results • Among all participants, 52.9% of female adolescents and 18.75% of male adolescents declared an interest in the field of eating disorders. • 72.2% of women and 50% of men most often derived their knowledge about anorexia and bulimia nervosa from science press books and publications . • 27.3% of women and 50% of men updated their knowledge about eating disorders through the media (particularly the Internet and television).
Results Table 2. Correlations between the study variables among female adolescents Eating Shape Weight Knowledge about concern concern concern eating disorders .668*** .592*** .658*** .095 Restraint .740*** .766*** .141 Eating concern .951*** .240 Shape concern .062 Weight concern Knowledge about eating *** p < .001 disorders
Results Table 3. Correlations between the study variables among male adolescents Eating Shape Weight Knowledge about concern concern concern eating disorders .528 .601* .752** .254 Restraint .093 .214 .073 Eating concern .939*** -.046 Shape concern -.049 Weight concern Knowledge about eating * p < .05 ** p < .01 *** p < .001 disorders
Conclusions • Female • Chwałczyoska and Bembenek (2010) adolescents will reported that present more attitudinal and Research females also behavioural spent more time results features of eating focusing on their disorder • PARTIALLY appearance. psychopathology CONFIRMED in comparison • Results are with male consistent with adolescents. another study by Sepulveda et al. (2008). Hipothesis H1 Discussion
• Respondents mainly obtained their knowledge from the Internet and the mass media (Myszkowska- • Female Ryciak et al., 2012; Ziora et al., 2009). adolescents • Women tended to be better knowledge of acquainted with eating Research disorders ( Chwałczyoska issues and Bembenek, 2010; results Gadola et al., 2012; Ziora et relevant to al., 2006). • The level of knowledge and eating awareness about eating • CONFIRMED disorders is not enough. disorders will Godala et al. (2012) proved be higher that 90% of interviewees declared they knew the than male concept of anorexia nervosa, but verification in adolescents. later research showed that only 17% of them had appropriate knowledge of this disorder. Discussion Hipothesis H2
• Women were more likely than men to show concern about weight and to slim by using low-calorie diets, laxatives or emetics (Sepulveda et al., • Knowledge about 2008). • Eating restriction was eating disorder associated with an eating psychopathology concern in both sexes but men Research were more likely than women will be negatively to admit to diet (Gadola et al., results 2012; Myszkowska-Ryciak et associated with al., 2012; Ziora et al., 2009). attitudes and • Women were more likely than men to show concern about behaviours • NOT CONFIRMED weight and to slim by using related with low-calorie diets, laxatives or emetics (Sepulveda et al., eating disorders. 2008). • As Sepulveda et al. (2008) emphasize, there are several studies of college populations that estimate the at-risk prevalence for eating disorders to be between 7.3% and 18% in females and 0.9% and 3% in male. Discussion Hipothesis H3
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