[Comparison between risk behaviour for eating disorders and SF-36 and perceived stress among 16-29-year old Danish women].
BACKGROUND
To improve the early identification of eating disorders the study tested whether women with risk behaviour for eating disorders have lower health-related life quality and more perceived stress than women without risk behaviour.


METHODS
The study was a representative cross sectional survey of 16-29-year old women and was part of the Danish Health Interview Survey 2005. After the personal interviews, 487 returned the questionnaires, with a response rate of 53.3%. Participants responded to RiBED-8, a screening instrument for identification of risk behaviour for eating disorders and also to SF-36 and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).


RESULTS
Women with risk behaviour for eating disorders have a lower score on all subscales of SF-36 than women without risk behaviour. The differences are significant for the subscales for mental health, vitality, social function and general health. They also have a higher mean score on PSS than women without risk behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with risk behaviour for eating disorders have lower mental health-related life quality than women without risk behaviour. They also experience daily life as more unpredictable, stressful and difficult.
Waaddegaard
Mette
M
Klinik for Spiseforstyrrelser, Stolpegård, DK-2820 Gentofte. mewa@dadlnet.dk
Davidsen
Michael
M
Kjøller
Mette
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult