Psychologic correlates of eating attitudes in Turkish female college students.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency and correlates of disordered eating attitudes in a university-sample Turkish female population and to evaluate the contribution of maternal psychopathologic symptoms and family functioning.


METHODS
Female students (n = 267; mean age, 21.21 +/- 1.88 years) completed the Eating Attitude Test, Beck Depression Inventory, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Symptom Check List 90-R, and Family Assessment Device. Mothers (n = 96; mean age = 46.41 +/- 5.31 years) completed the Beck Depression Inventory, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Symptom Check List 90-R.


RESULTS
Twelve percent of the female college students had abnormal eating attitudes. Disordered eating attitudes were positively correlated with depression, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and phobic anxiety. Eating attitude of the student sample was positively correlated with the mothers' obsessive-compulsive symptoms, phobic anxiety, and general psychopathology and "affective involvement" in family functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to pay attention to the levels of depression, alexithymia, anxiety, and obsession-compulsions, as well as family functioning and maternal psychopathology.
Celikel
Feryal Cam
FC
School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat 60100, Turkey. feryalcelike1@hotmail.com
Cumurcu
Birgul Elbozan
BE
Koc
Medine
M
Etikan
Ilker
I
Yucel
Basak
B
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014495:Universities