Abstract

Characterizing the unique effects of BMI, depression, and disordered eating on body image dissatisfaction in college-aged women

Aviva Ariel-Donges, M.S., Eliza Gordon, M.S., Vivan Bauman, B.S., Daniela Sanchez, Anaiz Rodriguez, Oshin Rai, Masyn McMillin, Abraham Eastman, M.A., Brittney Dixon, MPH, Kathryn Ross, PhD, MPH and Michael Perri, PhD
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)

Introduction: Body image dissatisfaction is a significant predictor of eating disorders in young women. This study aimed to (a) assess relations among body mass index (BMI), depressive symptoms, disordered eating, and body image dissatisfaction in college-aged women, and (b) evaluate the unique contribution of each factor in explaining body image dissatisfaction. Methods: The sample included 196 women (M±SD; age=20.9±2.7 years; BMI=24.0±4.8 kg/m2; White=66.3%, Black=14.8%, Asian=12.2%, more than one race/not reported=6.6%) screened for a yoga intervention for body image dissatisfaction. We evaluated associations among body image dissatisfaction (Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-2), disordered eating (Eating Attitudes Questionnaire-26), and BMI using Pearson correlations and a three-step hierarchical linear regression (1=BMI, 2=depressive symptoms, 3=disordered eating). Results: Greater body image dissatisfaction was associated with higher BMI (r=-.259), greater depressive symptomatology (r=-.395), and greater disordered eating (r=-.315), ps<.001. Each step of the regression explained significantly more variance in body image dissatisfaction (Model 1: R2=.067, p<.001; Model 2: R2Δ=.151, p<.001; Model 3: R2Δ=.019, p=.029). The final model included BMI (β=-.231, p<.001), depressive symptoms (β=-.327, p<.001), and disordered eating (β=-.153, p=.029), and it explained 23.7% (R2) of the total variance in body image dissatisfaction, p<.001. Discussion: Understanding factors that contribute to body image dissatisfaction is an essential step in preventing the development of eating disorders in college-aged women. While higher BMI and greater disordered eating were associated with worse body image dissatisfaction, we found the strongest association between depressive symptoms and body image, suggesting that mood may be a prime target for intervention.

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Social and behavioral sciences