Eating Attitudes, Sleep Quality, and Self-Esteem in Adolescents Diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

To investigate the risk of eating disorders, poor sleep quality, and low self-esteem in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison with a healthy group and to determine how these factors are related to each other as well as which disease characteristics may influence them.

The study group consisted of adolescents aged 13-21 who were diagnosed with PCOS based on current international suggestions. The control group comprised age-matched healthy volunteer adolescents. All participants completed three standardized self-report questionnaires: The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

A total of 90 adolescents with PCOS and 110 age-matched healthy peers were recruited. The adolescents with PCOS showed a higher risk of eating disorders (23.3% vs 12.7%, P = .048) and low self-esteem (28.9% vs 15.4%, P = .021) compared to their healthy peers. There were no significant differences between two groups in terms of PSQI total score (P > .05). In adolescents with PCOS who were at risk for eating disorders, self-esteem was lower (P = .033), and the rate of poor sleep quality was higher (P = .033). No relationship was found between body mass index or hirsutism and the risk of eating disorders, self-esteem, and sleep quality.

The findings of this study suggest that adolescents with PCOS are more likely to experience disturbances in eating attitudes and report low self-esteem. Physicians should be aware of and screen for these psychological and behavioral consequences of PCOS on adolescents.