Psychologic correlates of eating attitudes in Turkish female college students.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency and correlates of disordered eating attitudes in a university-sample Turkish female population and to evaluate the contribution of maternal psychopathologic symptoms and family functioning.

METHOD: Female students (n = 267; mean age, 21.21 +/- 1.88 years) completed the Eating Attitude Test, Beck Depression Inventory, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Symptom Check List 90-R, and Family Assessment Device. Mothers (n = 96; mean age = 46.41 +/- 5.31 years) completed the Beck Depression Inventory, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Symptom Check List 90-R.

RESULTS

Twelve percent of the female college students had abnormal eating attitudes. Disordered eating attitudes were positively correlated with depression, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and phobic anxiety. Eating attitude of the student sample was positively correlated with the mothers' obsessive-compulsive symptoms, phobic anxiety, and general psychopathology and "affective involvement" in family functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

It is necessary to pay attention to the levels of depression, alexithymia, anxiety, and obsession-compulsions, as well as family functioning and maternal psychopathology.