Body Image, Depression and Social Anxiety with Eating Disorder

Background: Eating disorders significantly impact the health and quality of life of young people. This study aimed to investigate Body Image, Depression and Social Anxiety with Eating Disorder in female students of Rasht Azad University. Methods: This is correlational study using Structure Equation Modeling (SEM). ۲۰۰ female students from Rasht Azad University, enrolled in the second semester of the ۲۰۲۳-۲۰۲۴ academic year, were selected using convenience sampling. Participants completed the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS), Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Social Anxiety Questionnaire (SAQ) online. Data were analyzed using correlation matrix and structural equation modeling with SPSS۲۳ and AMOS۲۳ software. Results: The structural equation model (SEM) demonstrated significant associations between the investigated variables. Specifically, significant direct effects were observed: social anxiety and eating disorders (P = ۰.۰۰۱), body image and eating disorders (P = ۰.۰۰۶), depression on social anxiety (P = ۰.۰۰۱), and body image and social anxiety (P = ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Social anxiety, body Image and depression significantly relationship with eating disorders; Therefore, suggested that universities implement training courses focusing on positive body image, communication skills, anxiety management, and self-care education for students. Keywords: Body Image, Depression, Social Anxiety, Eating Disorders Introduction Eating disorders (EDs) are mental illnesses lead to decrease of health, psychosocial functioning and quality of life (QoL) (۱,۲). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-۵) has described the different forms of specified EDs: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Eating disorders are strongly associated with body image concerns. The people with Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Behaviors are at high risk for eating disorders (۳,۴). Body image is a multidimensional concept that involves people’s positive and negative perception, thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes about their body and appearance(۵). Also, Body image is defined as the thoughts, perceptions, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors around one’s physical appearance (۶). Body image dissatisfaction plays a significant role as a risk factor for various maladaptive problems and disorders beginning in adolescence, and is also a predictor of depression, drive for thinness, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and extreme health behaviors such as dieting(۷).Body image dissatisfaction is one of the most prevalent disorders, defined by an individual's negative subjective evaluation of their physical appearance (۸).

کلیدواژه ها:

Body Image ، Depression ، Social Anxiety ، Eating Disorders