Eating Attitude, Ego-Identity, and Self-Esteem among the Urban High School Girls

Yang, Su Jin; Choi, Young; Lee, Hyung Yung

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was aimed to evaluate the abnormalities in eating attitude and the correlations between ego-identity and self-esteem among the urban high school girls.
METHODS
Four hundred and thirty-six high school girls were investigated by using Eating Attitude Test for Korean Adolescent(EAT-26), Korean Adolescent Ego-identity Scale(KA-EIS) and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scales(SES). According to the score of EAT-26KA, the high risk group was identified. We compared weight, height, body mass index(BMI), KA-EIS and SES between the high risk group and the control group. According to BMI, we identified a underweight, normal weight, and overweight group among subjects, and then we compared weight, height, EAT-26KA, KA-EIS, and SES among the three groups.
RESULTS
By EAT-26KA scores, 10.3% of girls had abnormal eating attitude and were considered as the high risk group for eating disorder. By BMI, 3.7%(N=16) of girls was overweight(BMI>25), 69.7%(N=304) was normal weight, and 26.6%(N=116) was underweight(BMI<19). The high risk group showed lower SES scores and 'self receptiveness' of KA-EIS than the control group. The overweight group showed higher EAT-26KA scores than other two groups. There were no significant differences in SES and KA-EIS among the three groups. KA-EIS was positively related to SES, and EAT-26KA was negatively related to SES.
CONCLUSION
The distribution rate of the high risk group for eating disorder is 10.3%, and the high risk group has low self-esteem and is poor in self-receptiveness. The overweight group is more likely to have higher EAT-26KA scores than other two groups. Therefore, it is useful to educate adolescents for the healthy eating behaviors and to provide them with the programs which promote the self-esteem and self-receptiveness.