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Prevalence of Eating Disorder Risk and Associations with Health‐related Quality of Life: Results from a Large School‐based Population Screening
Author(s) -
Zeiler Michael,
Waldherr Karin,
Philipp Julia,
Nitsch Martina,
Dür Wolfgang,
Karwautz Andreas,
Wagner Gudrun
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2368
Subject(s) - psychopathology , medicine , eating disorders , body mass index , population , quality of life (healthcare) , psychiatry , mental health , clinical psychology , gerontology , environmental health , nursing
Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of eating disorder (ED) risk as well as associated psychopathology and health‐related quality of life (HrQoL) in a large population sample of Austrian adolescents. Method A sample of 3610 adolescents aged 10–18 years was recruited from 261 schools representative for the Austrian population. The SCOFF questionnaire was used to identify participants at risk for EDs, and the Youth Self‐Report and KIDSCREEN were used to assess general psychopathology and HrQoL. Results In total, 30.9% of girls and 14.6% of boys were screened at risk for EDs. SCOFF scores were significantly associated with internalising and externalising behavioural problems as well as HrQoL after controlling for sex, age and body mass index. The SCOFF score further turned out to be an independent predictor of HrQoL. Discussion The high prevalence of ED risk among Austrian adolescents points out the need for prevention in this field. Variables indicating eating pathology should be included in general mental health screenings. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.