Adolescent eating disorder behaviours and cognitions: gender-specific effects of child, maternal and family risk factors.

N Micali; B De Stavola; G Ploubidis; E Simonoff; J Treasure; AE Field; (2015) Adolescent eating disorder behaviours and cognitions: gender-specific effects of child, maternal and family risk factors. The British journal of psychiatry, 207 (4). pp. 320-327. ISSN 0007-1250 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.152371

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BACKGROUND: Eating disorder behaviours begin in adolescence. Few longitudinal studies have investigated childhood risk and protective FACTORS. AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of eating disorder behaviours and cognitions and associated childhood psychological, physical and parental risk factors among a cohort of 14-year-old children. METHOD: Data were collected from 6140 boys and girls aged 14 years. Gender-stratified models were used to estimate prospective associations between childhood body dissatisfaction, body mass index (BMI), self-esteem, maternal eating disorder and family economic disadvantage on adolescent eating disorder behaviours and cognitions. RESULTS: Childhood body dissatisfaction strongly predicted eating disorder cognitions in girls, but only in interaction with BMI in boys. Higher self-esteem had a protective effect, particularly in boys. Maternal eating disorder predicted body dissatisfaction and weight/shape concern in adolescent girls and dieting in boys. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for eating disorder behaviours and cognitions vary according to gender. Prevention strategies should be gender-specific and target modifiable predictors in childhood and early adolescence.