Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2001):

Eating attitudes in English secondary school students: influences of ethnicity, gender, mood, and social class.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To examine the effects of ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic position, self-esteem, and emotion on eating attitudes in adolescents.

METHOD:
Questionnaire survey of 722 students in two English schools, using Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Angold vMood and Feeling instruments.

RESULTS:
EAT scores were significantly higher for Asians and Muslims and for mixed-race subjects than for White or African Caribbean subjects (p =.003). Adjusted odds ratios for having a very high EAT score (>20) were 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-6.0) in Asians and Muslims and 2.9 (95% CI 1.3-18.6) in mixed-race subjects, compared with White subjects. Having only one parent employed was also independently associated with a very high EAT score, compared with having both parents employed. Similar associations were found for a moderately high EAT score (>10) and for a combination of low self-esteem and high EAT score. Low self-esteem and depressed mood were independently associated with a high EAT score.

DISCUSSION:
Ethnicity, socioeconomic position, self-esteem, and depression, but not gender, were independently associated with eating attitudes. Effects of cultural and socioeconomic stresses on eating disorders may be mediated through depressed mood and low self-esteem.Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Author information

Author/s: Thomas, Catherine L (CL); James, Anthony C (AC); Bachmann, Max O (MO);

Affiliation: Child and Family Consultation Service, Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon, United Kingdom. gngmomb(-atsign-)med.uovs.ac.za

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: The International journal of eating disorders (Int J Eat Disord), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jan; vol 31 (issue 1) : pp 92-6

Dates: Created 2002/02/08; Completed 2003/08/05; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11835302, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adolescent Psychology Affect Attitude to Health Body Mass Index Child Cross-Cultural Comparison Cross-Sectional Studies England Ethnic Groups - psychology Female

Female Gender Identity Humans Male Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data Psychometrics Reference Values Reproducibility of Results Self Concept Social Class Students - psychology

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