Prevalence, incidence and prospective risk factors for eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence, incidence and prospective risk factors for eating disorders (ED) among young adult females.


METHODS
Using a prospective design, a randomly selected sample of 1157 females (18-30 years) from the general population was examined with questionnaires for establishing ED diagnoses, self-esteem, body concern, coping and perceived social support.


RESULTS
The prevalence of ED was 3.2% and the 2-year first-time incidence was 0.0105 (n=8). Subjects in the extended incidence group (n=34) reported significantly lower self-esteem and perceived social support, and higher body concern and relative use of escape-avoidance coping, at the onset of the study in 1997, compared to controls (n=643). Furthermore, they reported a significant increase in body concern and relative use of escape-avoidance coping, and a significant decrease in self-esteem compared to controls from 1997 to 1999.


CONCLUSIONS
These factors may be considered as risk factors for later development of ED among young adult women.
Ghaderi
A
A
Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Scott
B
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological