Investigation of the relationships between eating attitudes, body image and depression among Turkish university students

Introduction. Eating disorders are one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and have become a growing problem nowadays. Research shows that eating disorders are mostly widespread in industrialized societies where beauty is associated with thinness. This study investigates the relationships between eating attitudes, body image and depression among Turkish university students aged 18 to 25. Materials and methods. The sample comprised of 221 female and 80 male university students from four different universities located in Istanbul and Ankara. Demographic Information Form, Body Image Scale, Eating Attitude Test (EAT-40) and Beck Depression Inventory were used to collect data. Height and weight of the participants were also collected to measure Body Mass Index (BMI) of the individuals. Results. This study found that 55 (18.3%) students had abnormal eating attitudes, 115 (38.2%) students had negative body image and 102 (33.9%) students showed moderate and severe levels of depression. Body image was negatively correlated with eating attitude and depression in underweight individuals when grouped according to their BMI. Being underweight was significantly higher in females. Females also had more negative body image and higher depression levels. Individuals with abnormal eating attitudes had higher depression levels. BMI and gender did not lead to any significant difference in the eating attitudes of the students. Conclusion. This study has contributed to the literature on the relationships between eating attitudes, body image and depression among Turkish university students between the ages of 18 and 25. It has further drawn attention to the importance of eating disorders in Turkey and being aware of the relationships among eating attitudes, body image, depression, and BMI. Results of the study are discussed in detail and in consideration of cultural context.