Troubles alimentaires, fonctionnement émotionnel et activité physique au sein d’une population étudiante spécifique

Abstract

IntroductionThe students represent a high-risk population for Feeding and Eating Disorders, including problematic eating behaviors, also called Unspecified Feeding and Eating Disorders. These latters usually begin during this period, especially in the first years of study. This study aims to better understand disordered eating by focusing on exercise dependence, emotional sensitivity and openness among a student population. The literature has shown that eating disorders are linked to an operative psychic functioning. The latter is characterized by a poverty of symbolization, associated with problematic emotions treatment modalities’ and with addicted to physical activity that account for the tendency of the subject to focus on the field of reality. We consider it important to study the link between emotions and physical activity in a non-clinical population in order to bring elements of understanding of problematic eating behaviors. Our aim is to assess, firstly, the emotional functioning of students with problematic eating behaviors; on the other, to assess the links that may exist between problematic eating behaviors and dependence to physical activity. We also aim to assess how emotional intensity, emotional openness and dependence to physical activity are explanatory factors of problematic eating behaviors. MethodsThis work was conducted with 113 female enrolled in a first year nursing program. We used the Eating Attitudes Test, the Exercise Dependence Scale, the Affect Intensity Measure and the Emotional Openness Inventory. ResultsAmong the 113 female enrolled in a first year nursing program, 21% of them have problematic eating behaviors. The results showed (1) a positive relationship between problematic eating behaviors and the perception of body internal and external emotional indicators; (2) women with problematic eating behaviors were more aware of body internal indicators of affectivity than none problematic eating disturbance, they also had an exercise dependence score higher than the others students; (3) the awareness of external indicators of affectivity and tolerance were explanatory factors from problematic eating behaviors. ConclusionThe research aim was to determine the specificity of exercise dependence, affect intensity and emotional openness within eating disturbances. Results indicated that the exercise dependence and the processing mode of emotions highlight a concrete operating mode among student with a problematic eating disturbance. The apprehension of emotions is done on a concrete and operative side. The subject would practice a sport in order to turn away from emotional experiences that he cannot develop psychically, but also reduce the sense of body dissatisfaction. Problematic eating behaviors would an alternative allowing regaining control over his body and would a support in the regulation of emotions.