Relationship between eating disorders perception and psychosocial profile in school-dropout adolescents

In body-mind relationship field, eating disorders (ED) are considered disabling disorders that can alter physical health status, inducing profound alterations in psychosocial, cognitive and emotional dimensions. These disorders, characterized by a strong comorbidity with other diseases, usually begin during childhood or adolescence, and include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Aim of this study was to investigate the associations between eating disorders perception and dimensions of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and well-being perception (WBP) in school-dropout adolescents.

Data were collected in 450 adolescents (19 ± 2 years, male 308), and HRQoL, WBP, and ED were assessed by means a battery of standardized questionnaire.

EDs are more pronounced in females than in males (p < 0.05) and are associated with lower HRQoL (p < 0.001) and lower well-being perception (p < 0.001). EDs are associated with an impairment of physical (p < 0.05) and psychological well-being perception (p < 0.001), emotional responses (p < 0.001), self-perception (p < 0.001), and a reduction of general well-being (p < 0.05).

Although it is complicated to distinguish between causes and consequences, these findings suggest a complex and multifaceted, association between ED and HRQoL domains. Thus, multiple factors need taking into account in the policy of EDs prevention, identifying all the components of well-being to focus and personalize healthy programs in adolescences.