OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of childhood abuses on adolescents' psychology and behaviors related to harmful dietary pattern.

METHODSAnonymous questionnaire study on childhood abuses, adolescents' psychology and behaviors regarding their dietary patterns was conducted among 5141 students in 9 middle schools in 2 areas of Anhui province.

RESULTSAmong 5141 students, 29.9% reported having severe childhood physical abuse, 64.8% having intermediate childhood physical abuse, 51.4% having mental abuse, 5.3% having physical contact sexual abuse and 24.5% having non-physical contact sexual abuse. In junior, senior middle schools and vocational schools, the incidence rate of severe childhood physical abuse, physical contact sexual abuse and non-physical contact sexual abuse among male students was higher than that among female students. In total, the incidence rate of childhood mental abuse among female students (53.1%) was higher than that among male students (49.8%) and with significant difference (chi2 = 5.484, P < 0.05). The incidence rate of 5 kinds of childhood abuses among junior middle school students was relatively low, and the incidence rate of intermediate childhood physical abuse and mental abuse was higher among senior middle school students. The incidence rate of 9 among the 11 kinds of psychology and behaviors related to harmful dietary pattern among female students in the middle schools and vocational schools was higher than that among male students. By unconditional multivariate logistic regression model, results showed that the childhood abuses was among the 11 kinds of psychological and behavioral risk factors related to harmful dietary pattern.

CONCLUSIONChildhood abuses had negative effects on dietary behaviors in adolescents.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; Child ; Child Abuse ; psychology ; China ; epidemiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors

INTRODUCTIONElevated levels of psychopathology have been described in various groups of obese patients. This study aimed to describe the presence of depressive and binge eating symptoms in patients presented for clinical weight management at a general hospital in Singapore, as well as their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Correlations between these symptoms and other demographic and clinical variables were also sought.

MATERIALS AND METHODSPatients presented at a clinical weight management programme were asked to complete the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Binge Eating Scale (BES) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Clinical and demographic data were also collected.

RESULTSOf the group, 17.1% reported moderate or severe binge eating symptoms and 9.7% reported moderate or severe depressive symptoms. HRQOL, mostly in physical health domains, was lower in this sample compared to local norms. Within the group, binge eating and depressive symptoms, but not increasing obesity, predicted poorer HRQOL.

CONCLUSIONSPsychological symptoms are significantly present in patients presented for clinical weight management and these contribute to poorer quality of life. Addressing these symptoms will improve the overall well-beings of these patients and the total benefits gained will exceed the benefits of weight loss per se.

Adult ; Aged ; Depression ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; complications ; epidemiology ; Female ; Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; ethnology ; psychology ; therapy ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Quality of Life ; psychology ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

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.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eating Disorders/epidemiology/*psychology ; Feeding Behavior/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Social Class

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.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eating Disorders/epidemiology/*psychology ; Feeding Behavior/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Social Class

OBJECTIVES: A lots of studies have investigated the psychosocial characteristics of suicidal attempters in order to find efficient coping strategy and treatment intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychosocial factors affecting the suicide attempt in psychiatric patients. METHODS: Two hundred eighty patients who attempted suicide and admitted in the emergency room in 3 university hospitals from December 2003 to May 2006 were recruited in this study. The patients were interviewed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorder (SCID-RV), Lethality of Suicide Attempt Ratings Scale (LSARS) and Risk-Rescue Rating system (RRR). RESULTS: The suicide attempters have psychosocial characteristics of female preponderance, age 20-39, high school in educational level, married in marriage condition, inoccupation, house makers in occupation. Most of attempters used the nonsevere methods such as drug ingestion or wrist cutting, and selected home as the place of attempt. The delay until discovery was less than 4 hours for most suicide attempters, and the rate of asking for help directly or dropping clues were high. Major depressive disorder was the most common psychiatric illness among attempters. Conclusions: The present study would be the early stage to explore the risk factor and protect factor of suicidal attempt. This study suggests that the closed observation to potential-suicidal attempter in daily life is critical to protect against the fatal results due to suicidal attempts.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bipolar Disorder ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Marriage ; Occupations ; Psychology* ; Risk Factors ; Schizophrenia ; Suicide* ; Suicide, Attempted ; Wrist