Disturbed Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in South Korean Boys and Girls: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study.
10.3349/ymj.2010.51.3.302
- Author:
Su Jin YANG
1
;
Jae Min KIM
;
Jin Sang YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. jsyoon@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Eating disorders;
prevalence;
correlates;
Korea;
cross-sectional survey
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Body Mass Index;
Child;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Eating Disorders/epidemiology/*psychology;
Feeding Behavior/*psychology;
Female;
Humans;
Male;
Multivariate Analysis;
Social Class
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2010;51(3):302-309
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the prevalence and correlates of disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors in South Korean students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey, 2,226 fourth and seventh grade students filled out questionnaires on eating attitudes and behaviors (Eating Attitude Test -26, EAT-26), coping strategies, fear of being overweight, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. RESULTS: Disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors were found in 7 percent of students. In the multivariate analyses, disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors were associated with the passive coping strategies, fear of being overweight, total behavioral difficulties, fourth grade, and high socioeconomic status (SES). Differences in the associations were found between boys and girls. There were significant associations between elevated EAT-26 scores and passive coping strategies, desired underweight body mass index (BMI), and low SES in boys; and between elevated EAT-26 scores and passive coping strategies, fear of being overweight, behavioral problems, being in the fourth grade, and high and low SES in girls. CONCLUSION: In South Korean children, disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors were associated with various psychological and sociocultural factors; some gender-related differences are also evident.
