The Relationship between Eating Disorders, Self-esteem and Depression among in College Women

Sung, Mi Hae

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between eating disorder, self-esteem and depression in college women. METHODS: Participants were 282 college women. Data were collected between Nov. 1st and 30th, 2003, and provide basic data on eating disorder levels in college women and basic data for health control programs. The instrument was a questionnaire consisting of 8 items on general characteristics and weight control, 24 on eating disorders, 10 on self-esteem and 10 on depression. Analysis of the data was done using numbers, percentages, means and standard deviations, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficients. SPSS WIN 10.0 was used in data analysis. RESULTS: The greatest difference for eating disorders was between the group with normal body weight and the group with low body weight (t=-6.94, p=.000). There was a high positive correlation between Body Mass Index and eating disorder (r=.383, p<.01), between eating disorder and depression (r=.161, p<.01). There was a high negative correlation between eating disorder and self-esteem (r=-.196, p<.01), and between self-esteem and depression (r=-.537, p<.01). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that college women need more education and counseling on dietary concerns. Also, systematic efforts to establish a more health conscious social standard for beauty should be taken. Further empirical and experimental studies are required to investigate factors influencing attitudes towards eating held by college women and to determine variables which affect various specific dimensions of these attitudes.