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Eating problems and personality traits. An Italian pilot study among 992 high school students
Author(s) -
AbbateDaga Giovanni,
Gramaglia Carla,
Malfi Giuseppe,
Pierò Andrea,
Fassino Secondo
Publication year - 2006
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.770
Subject(s) - dieting , eating disorders , psychology , temperament and character inventory , persistence (discontinuity) , temperament , personality , big five personality traits , clinical psychology , body mass index , eating attitudes test , eating disorder inventory , personality assessment inventory , bulimia nervosa , developmental psychology , obesity , medicine , social psychology , weight loss , endocrinology , geotechnical engineering , engineering
Objective To evaluate the prevalence of eating problems and to investigate personality traits associated with disturbed eating behaviours among Italian high school students. Method Cross‐sectional study involving 992 students from six high schools in Turin, Italy. Students completed the Eating Attitudes Test‐40 (EAT‐40), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ); their weight and height were measured. Results 5.5% of the whole sample and 7.4% of girls scored above the EAT‐40 cutoff value. A higher Body Mass Index (BMI) correlates with higher EAT scores. Low scores on Self‐Directedness and Reward Dependence together with high Persistence emerged in subjects with eating problems. Discussion Dieting and higher BMI are confirmed as correlates of eating problems. Personality traits measured with the TCI emerge for the first time as correlates of eating problems. Longitudinal studies should clear whether these are risk factors or not. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.