Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in college women: association with physical activity, internalization of appearance ideals, and self-objectification

This study aimed to examine associations of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors with moderate to vigorous physical activity, internalization of appearance ideals, and self-objectification in college women. Participants were 472 Brazilian college women, aged 18 to 30 years (mean 21.85 years; SD = 4.46). Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors were assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test. Physical activity levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long version). Internalization of appearance ideals was assessed using the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4-Revised-Female. Self-objectification was assessed using the Self-Objectification Beliefs and Behaviors Scale. Spearman's correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression were conducted to examine the associations between the variables under investigation. Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors showed significant ( p < 0.01) and positive correlations with all independent variables. In the multiple linear regression analysis, only the internalization of the muscular ideal was not associated with the outcome. The final model explained 41.3% of the variation of the dependent variable scores. College women may be susceptible to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, according to their levels of physical activity, internalization of the thin/low body fat ideal, internalization of the general attractiveness ideal, and self-objectification.