Developmental trends of eating disorder symptoms and comorbid internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine when gender differences in disordered eating symptoms emerge, when correlations between disordered eating and internalizing symptoms develop, and whether the relationship between internalizing and disordered eating symptoms varies based on age and/or gender.


METHODS
We used questionnaire data from a community sample (N = 424) of third, sixth, and ninth grade girls and boys.


RESULTS
Gender differences in eating pathology emerge between 12 and 15 years. The relationship between anxiety symptoms and eating pathology among both genders is weak and remains constant between the third and ninth grades. The relationship between depressive symptoms and eating pathology increases between the third and sixth grades for boys, and the sixth and ninth grades for girls.


CONCLUSIONS
Before age 12, prevention programs for eating disorders should be given to both genders, whereas after age 12, they should target girls. Further, providers should offer intervention for comorbid depressive symptoms by third grade for boys and sixth grade for girls.
University of Denver, Department of Psychology, 2155 S. Race Street, Denver, CO 80208, United States. Electronic address: jholmden@du.edu.
Jill M
JM
Holm-Denoma
University of Denver, Department of Psychology, United States. Electronic address: ben.hankin@psy.du.edu.
Benjamin L
BL
Hankin
Rutgers University, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, United States. Electronic address: jfyoung@rci.rutgers.edu.
Jami F
JF
Young
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Adolescents; Anxiety; Children; Depression; Eating disorders