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Factors associated with eating disorder symptoms in a community sample of 6th and 7th grade girls
Author(s) -
Killen Joel D.,
Hayward Chris,
Wilson Darrell M.,
Taylor C. Barr,
Hammer Lawrence D.,
Litt Iris,
Simmonds Beverly,
Haydel Farish
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.2260150406
Subject(s) - eating disorders , psychology , bulimia nervosa , clinical psychology , eating disorder inventory , overeating , depression (economics) , human physical appearance , body mass index , prospective cohort study , psychiatry , perfectionism (psychology) , obesity , developmental psychology , medicine , macroeconomics , economics
Nine hundred thirty‐nine 6th and 7th grade girls participated in the baseline phase of a prospective study designed to examine a set of potential risk factors for the development of eating disorders. Of the 939,839 girls (89%) completed the bulimia nervosa section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐III‐R disorders. One girl received the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa, another 35 were classified as a symptomatic group. Using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for age and stage of sexual maturation, symptomatic and asymptomatic groups were compared on the following measures: Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), BMI, triceps skinfold thickness, waist‐to‐hip ratio, depression symptoms (CES‐D and DSRS), Restraint Scale, and a measure of family adaptability and cohesion (FACES). Symptomatic girls were more developmentally mature, significantly heavier, reported greater fear of weight gain, experienced greater dysphoria, indicated increased body dissatisfaction, and reported greater feelings of inadequacy and personal worthlessness. Their status on these dimensions may indicate Potential vulnerability to eating disorders and, ultimately, suggest the choice of targets for intervention. Our future goal is to conduct the prospective analyses needed to confirm the hypothesized linkages.