Abstract
BackgroundBoth eating disorders and excessive internet use represent significant health issues for contemporary adolescents. Yet, the link between them has seldom been investigated. We aim to study this association through their common underlying psychological factors: internalising problems and externalising problems.MethodsA representative sample of 7,083 adolescents (Mage = 13.48 years; SDage = 1.32; 50.3% girls) from Slovakia was obtained from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) project in 2018. Study variables included the Excessive Internet Use Scale (EIU) and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Eating disorders symptoms (EDS) were assessed by SCOFF and selected items from the Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care (ESP). Data were analysed separately for boys and girls with Structural Equation Modelling.ResultsThere was a partial correlation between EDS and EIU (r = 0.36 for boys and r = 0.29 for girls) after controlling for the internalising and externalising of problems. Internalising and externalising problems were positively associated with EDS, while EIU was only associated with externalising problems. The results were comparable for both genders.ConclusionThe study provides evidence that, during adolescence, EDS and EIU are related and have a tendency to occur together. Also, they are related even when controlled for their shared underlying psychological factors, namely the emotional and attentional/behavioural difficulties.
Highlights
Adolescence is a life phase that characteristically includes an increased level of risky behaviour and patterns of behaviour that can have a negative impact on health [1]
The study found that, in adolescents, eating disorders symptoms are associated with excessive internet use even when controlled for their shared psychological factors
Self-control issues were associated with both the eating disorder symptoms and excessive internet use, while emotional issues were only associated with the eating disorder symptoms
Summary
Adolescence is a life phase that characteristically includes an increased level of risky behaviour and patterns of behaviour that can have a negative impact on health [1]. We focus on two health risks which are often discussed with respect to current adolescentshealth and well-being—eating disorders and excessive internet use. We study these risks in the context of internalising and externalising problems. Since our study uses a general representative sample of adolescents, we focus on the symptoms of bulimia and anorexia nervosa ( referred to as eating disorders symptoms, EDS). Both eating disorders and excessive internet use represent significant health issues for contemporary adolescents. We aim to study this association through their common underlying psychological factors: internalising problems and externalising problems
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