J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2017 Jun;26(2):134-142. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2017.26.2.134.

Factors associated with Abnormal Eating Behaviors among Women College Students

• Choi Y
• Kim SS

• KMID: 2385699
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2017.26.2.134

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this descriptive correlation study was to examine the correlations among body mass index, paternal and maternal parenting, alexithymia, depression, and abnormal eating behaviors, and to determine associated risk factors for Korean women college students.
METHODS
Data were collected from 270 women college students in S city, Korea. They were asked to fill out the Korean version of the Eating Attitude Test, Parental Bonding Instrument, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchial regression analysis.
RESULTS
College students' abnormal eating behaviors were significantly associated with body mass index, paternal and maternal parenting, alexithymia, and depression. Hierarchical regression analysis found the most important predictors of abnormal eating behaviors were body mass index and depression, which explained 15% of the variance in abnormal eating behaviors.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that women college students with overweight and higher levels of depression are vulnerable to disordered eating behavior. Management of obesity and depressive mood could be effective interventions to prevent disordered eating behavior.

Keyword

Eating behavior; Parenting; Depression; Body mass index; Young adult

MeSH Terms

Affective Symptoms
Body Mass Index
Depression
Eating*
Epidemiologic Studies
Feeding Behavior*
Female
Humans
Korea
Obesity
Overweight
Parenting
Parents
Risk Factors
Statistics as Topic
Young Adult

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