title: Young women with physical disabilities: risk factors for symptoms of eating disorders.
abstract: Women with disabilities are at risk for poor psychological adjustment and unhealthy weight-control practices. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of symptoms of eating disorders in a clinic-based sample of women who had two disabling conditions and to identify condition-related risk factors that were linked to these symptoms. A cross-sectional survey of 71 women (mean age = 23 yr) with spina bifida or rheumatologically related illnesses was conducted to assess the symptoms of eating disorders, condition-related characteristics, and weight-control practices. Symptoms of eating disorders were measured by the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI). Eight percent of the respondents reported a sufficient number of symptoms of eating disorders to indicate a possible clinical disorder. More than 20% of the respondents scored at or above the clinical cut-point on at least one of the eight EDI subscales. Selected condition-related characteristics (multiple conditions, condition-affected driving, and uncertainty of illness course) were associated with EDI scores after adjusting for demographic variables, family factors, and weight-control practices.
authors.affiliation: Spina Bifida and Related Conditions Center, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ireys
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kinsman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*