Prevalence and psychological correlates of eating disorders among females aged 18-30 years in the general population.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of eating disorders (ED) according to DSM-IV, and also correlates of ED, were examined.


METHODS
This study represented the first phase of a questionnaire-based prospective study. The subjects consisted of 1157 women randomly selected from the general population of females aged 18-30 years in Sweden.


RESULTS
Lifetime and point prevalences of 7.8% and 2.6%, respectively, were reported for ED. Subjects with ED reported lower self-esteem, less perceived social support from the family and higher concern about body shape than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Establishing the prevalence and correlates of ED simultaneously and longitudinally among females in the general population may promote our understanding of the development, course and maintenance of ED.
Ghaderi
A
A
Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Scott
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires