A cross-cultural examination of the relationship between negative mood states, body image and eating disorders.
The present study investigated the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms, body image and disordered eating behaviours in Polish and French populations. In addition, our study was also designed to explore durability and intensity of depression and anxiety symptoms in both anorexic groups. Participants were 95 adolescent girls suffering from anorexia nervosa and 95 healthy women. All participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Eating Disorder Inventory. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the depression score of Polish anorexic patients was significantly higher than those of French adolescents. Compared with the control group without eating disorders, both anorexic group experienced significantly higher anxiety and depression symptoms. Anxiety and depression levels were found to have increased with the Polish women's age and Body Mass Index. They were independent of the illness duration for both in Polish and French patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. The results of Pearson's correlations show that, in the Polish group, the higher anxiety is, the higher maturity fears and interoceptive awareness are. Furthermore, in the French group, the higher depression is, the higher bulimia, ineffectiveness, interpersonal distrust, interoceptive awareness and maturity fears are. The results are discussed in terms of the important role of mood and anxiety symptoms in eating disorders.
Brytek-Matera
Anna
A
Department of Psychology, University of Silesia, Poland.
Schiltz
Lony
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008189:Luxembourg; D011044:Poland / Q000208:ethnology