Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.26(2) > 1058110

Choi and Kim: Factors associated with Abnormal Eating Behaviors among Women College Students

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this descriptive correlation study was to examine the correlations among body mass index, paternal and maternal parenting, alexithymia, depression, and abnormal eating behaviors, and to determine associated risk factors for Korean women college students.

Methods

Data were collected from 270 women college students in S city, Korea. They were asked to fill out the Korean version of the Eating Attitude Test, Parental Bonding Instrument, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchial regression analysis.

Results

College students' abnormal eating behaviors were significantly associated with body mass index, paternal and maternal parenting, alexithymia, and depression. Hierarchical regression analysis found the most important predictors of abnormal eating behaviors were body mass index and depression, which explained 15% of the variance in abnormal eating behaviors.

Conclusion

These results suggest that women college students with overweight and higher levels of depression are vulnerable to disordered eating behavior. Management of obesity and depressive mood could be effective interventions to prevent disordered eating behavior.

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Table 1.
A Difference of Abnormal Eating Behaviors according to the Characteristics of the Subjects (N=270)
Variables Categories n (%) or M±SD Abnormal eati
M±SD F (p) Scheffé
Age (year)   22.01±2.41    
Average monthly disbursement (10,000 won) <20 25 (9.3) 11.36±9.81 1.25 (.293)
20~<30 58 (21.5) 9.25±9.36  
30~<40 129 (47.8) 11.41±8.80  
≥40 58 (21.5) 12.50±10.00  
Subjective Body Image Recognition 54 (20.0) 9.05±8.12 13.64
Slima 94 (34.8) 8.37±8.60 (<.001)
Standardb Fatc 122 (45.2) 14.27±9.41 b, a<c
Body satisfaction Dissatisfactiona 148 (54.8) 14.29±9.61 21.18
Usuallybc 68 (25.2) 7.13±6.88 (<.001)
Satisfactionc 54 (20.0) 7.74±7.92 b, c<a
A direct negative impact from parents words on the appearance and weight (n=269) Not receivea 142 (52.8) 9.50±9.28 10.95
Usuallyb 55 (20.4) 9.98±6.83 (<.001)
Receivec 72 (26.8) 15.41±9.80 a, b<c
Not response 1    
An indirect negative impact from parent words on body weight (n=269) Not receivea 150 (55.8) 10.45±9.47 8.57
Usuallyb 69 (25.7) 9.37±6.93 (<.001)
Receivec 50 (18.6) 15.88±10.28 b, a<c
Not response 1    
Level of abnomal eating behavior Normal group (<18) 213 (78.9)    
Possible risk group (18~20) 18 (6.7)    
  High risk group (≥21) 39 (14.4)    
Table 2.
Correlations among BMI, Alexithymia, Perception of Parenting, Depression, and Abnormal Eating Behavior (N=270)
Variables M±SD 1 2 3 4 5
3-1 3-2 3-3 3-4
r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p)
1. Abnormal eating behavior 11.17±9.29 1              
2. Body mass index 20.88±2.76 .24 (<.001) 1            
3. Perception of parenting                  
3-1. Maternal 13.40±7.12 .22 −.01 1          
overprotection   (<.001) (.937)            
3-2. Maternal care 25.91±6.15 −.12 (.043) .04 (.486) −.45 (<.001) 1        
3-3. Paternal overprotection 12.74±6.60 .19 (.002) .05 (.397) .70 (<.001) −.34 (<.001) 1      
3-4. Paternal care 22.98±6.92 −.12 (.050) −.11 (.730) −.30 (<.001) .46 (<.001) −.48 (<.001) 1    
4. Alexithymia 36.33±11.69 .17 (<.001) −.01 (.848) .27 (<.001) −.16 (.009) .24 (<.001) −.17 (.005) 1  
5. Depression 15.57±11.40 .32 (<.001) .04 (.550) .27 (<.001) −.27 (<.001) .31 (<.001) −.33 (<.001) .42 (<.001) 1
Table 3.
Influence of Abnormal Eating Behavior of Female College Students (N=270)
Variable Model I Model II Model III
β SE t p β SE t p β SE t p
(Constant) −5.33 4.21 −1.26 .207 −7.64 5.51 −1.39 .207 −13.17 5.61 −2.35 .020
Body mass index .24 0.20 3.96 <.001 .24 0.19 4.10 <.001 .23 0.19 4.10 <.001
Perception of parenting                        
 Maternal overprotection         .18 0.11 2.10 .038 .16 0.11 1.89 .059
 Maternal care         −.04 0.11 −0.58 .566 −.01 0.10 −0.17 .862
 Paternal overprotection         .00 0.10 0.02 .984 .06 0.10 0.80 .426
 Paternal care         .03 0.13 0.37 .372 −.00 0.12 −0.05 .962
Emotional factor                        
 Alexithymia                 .02 0.05 0.25 .802
 Depression                 .28 0.05 4.22 <.001

R2=.05, F=15.639, p<.001 R2=.09, F=6.344, p<.001 R2=.15, F=7.956, p<.001

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