Adolescent eating disorder behaviours and cognitions: gender-specific effects of child, maternal and family risk factors

N Micali; B De Stavola; G Ploubidis; E Simonoff; J Treasure; A E Field

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.114.152371

Adolescent eating disorder behaviours and cognitions: gender-specific effects of child, maternal and family risk factors

Br J Psychiatry. 2015 Oct;207(4):320-7. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.152371. Epub 2015 Jul 23.

Authors

N Micali¹, B De Stavola², G Ploubidis², E Simonoff², J Treasure², A E Field²

Affiliations

¹ N. Micali, MD, PhD, University College London Institute of Child Health, Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, London; B. De Stavola, PhD, Centre for Statistical Methodology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; G. Ploubidis, PhD, Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London; E. Simonoff, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry and National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Unity for Mental Health, London; J. Treasure, MBBS, PhD, Eating Disorders Research Unit, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK; A. E. Field, ScD, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA [email protected].
² N. Micali, MD, PhD, University College London Institute of Child Health, Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, London; B. De Stavola, PhD, Centre for Statistical Methodology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; G. Ploubidis, PhD, Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London; E. Simonoff, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry and National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Unity for Mental Health, London; J. Treasure, MBBS, PhD, Eating Disorders Research Unit, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK; A. E. Field, ScD, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Abstract

Background: Eating disorder behaviours begin in adolescence. Few longitudinal studies have investigated childhood risk and protective FACTORS.

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of eating disorder behaviours and cognitions and associated childhood psychological, physical and parental risk factors among a cohort of 14-year-old children.

Method: Data were collected from 6140 boys and girls aged 14 years. Gender-stratified models were used to estimate prospective associations between childhood body dissatisfaction, body mass index (BMI), self-esteem, maternal eating disorder and family economic disadvantage on adolescent eating disorder behaviours and cognitions.

Results: Childhood body dissatisfaction strongly predicted eating disorder cognitions in girls, but only in interaction with BMI in boys. Higher self-esteem had a protective effect, particularly in boys. Maternal eating disorder predicted body dissatisfaction and weight/shape concern in adolescent girls and dieting in boys.

Conclusions: Risk factors for eating disorder behaviours and cognitions vary according to gender. Prevention strategies should be gender-specific and target modifiable predictors in childhood and early adolescence.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
Body Image / psychology*
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Cognition
Feeding and Eating Disorders / epidemiology*
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Personal Satisfaction*
Prospective Studies
Sex Factors*
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
United Kingdom / epidemiology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding