Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2009):

Risk and protective factors for disturbed eating in adolescent girls - aspects of perfectionism and attitudes to eating and weight.

Full Abstract

The aim of this study was to longitudinally examine the role of personal standards, self-evaluation, perceived benefits of thinness and attitudes to eating and weight in the development of healthy versus disturbed eating in adolescent girls. In a longitudinal study, girls who participated in two assessments, four to five years apart, were divided into three groups according to the attitudes to eating that they manifested at the second evaluation: those with disturbed eating patterns (DE-group, n = 49), those with intermediate concerns about eating (IE-group, n = 260) and those with healthy eating attitudes (HE-group, n = 120). Variables concerning attitudes to eating and weight and physical self-evaluation emerged as risk factors, whereas personal standards or self-evaluation in general did not. Protective factors were a low BMI, healthy eating attitudes, an accepting attitude towards body size and a positive self-evaluation, particularly with regard to physical and psychological characteristics. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of early risk and protective factors for eating disturbances in girls.

Author information

Author/s: Aila Gustafsson, Sanna (S); Edlund, Birgitta (B); Kjellin, Lars (L); Norring, Claes (C);

Affiliation: Orebro University, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Psychiatric Research Centre, Orebro, Sweden. sanna.aila-gustafsson(-atsign-)orebroll.se

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association (Eur Eat Disord Rev), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2009 Sep-Oct; vol 17 (issue 5) : pp 380-9

Dates: Created 2009/08/31; Completed 2009/11/17;

PMID: 19378349, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 11/17/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Adolescent Analysis of Variance Attitude to Health Body Mass Index Body Weight Chi-Square Distribution Eating Disorders - psychology Feeding Behavior - psychology Female

Humans Longitudinal Studies Personal Satisfaction Prospective Studies Psychological Tests Risk Factors Self Concept Sweden Young Adult

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Related articles

These are the most related articles currently in our database:

• Problematic eating behaviors in adolescents with low self-esteem and elevated depressive symptoms. 8 Jun 2008
• A comparison of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and the Restraint Scale and consideration of Lowe's Three-Factor Model. 30 Dec 1997
• Binge eating severity, self-concept, dieting self-efficacy and social support during treatment of binge eating disorder. 30 Oct 1999
• Influence of sexual orientation and age on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in women. 30 Oct 2003
• Epidemiology of eating behaviour and weight distribution in 14- to 19-year-old Swiss students. 30 Mar 1996
• Children with early refusal to eat: follow-up in adolescence. 30 Aug 2005
• The impact of emotion upon eating behavior: the role of subliminal visual processing of threat cues. 30 Mar 1999
• Eating beyond satiety and body mass index. 30 Aug 2008
• [Depression and nutrition in a group of women during climacteric] 27 Feb 1993
• Comparative study of eating-related attitudes and psychological traits between Israeli-Arab and -Jewish schoolgirls. 15 Aug 2006

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a larger map of 100+ related articles.