Eating Attitudes, Sleep Quality, and Self-Esteem in Adolescents Diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the risk of eating disorders, poor sleep quality, and low self-esteem in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison with a healthy group and to determine how these factors are related to each other as well as which disease characteristics may influence them.

METHODS

The study group consisted of adolescents aged 13-21 who were diagnosed with PCOS based on current international suggestions. The control group comprised age-matched healthy volunteer adolescents. All participants completed three standardized self-report questionnaires: The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 90 adolescents with PCOS and 110 age-matched healthy peers were recruited. The adolescents with PCOS showed a higher risk of eating disorders (23.3% vs 12.7%, P = .048) and low self-esteem (28.9% vs 15.4%, P = .021) compared to their healthy peers. There were no significant differences between two groups in terms of PSQI total score (P > .05). In adolescents with PCOS who were at risk for eating disorders, self-esteem was lower (P = .033), and the rate of poor sleep quality was higher (P = .033). No relationship was found between body mass index or hirsutism and the risk of eating disorders, self-esteem, and sleep quality.

DISCUSSION: The findings of this study suggest that adolescents with PCOS are more likely to experience disturbances in eating attitudes and report low self-esteem. Physicians should be aware of and screen for these psychological and behavioral consequences of PCOS on adolescents.