We examined the interrelationship of eating attitudes, body-checking behavior cognition, and depression among Japanese female university students. The 197 student participants were divided, according to their Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) scores, into 3 groups: high (EAT-H), medium
(EAT-M), and low (EAT-L). Body-checking behavior and depression scores were compared among the 3 groups, using a 1-way analysis of variance. Results showed that the EAT-L group had the lowest scores for objective verification, body control, and depression. Further, the obsessive thoughts body
image score increased as scores on the EAT-26 did, indicating that inappropriate eating attitudes have a strong impact on obsessive thoughts. In addition, the EAT-M group had a higher reassurance–confidence score than that of the EAT-L group, and the EAT-H group had the highest scores
for objective verification, obsessive thoughts, body control, and depression. Implications of the findings are discussed and directions for future research proposed.
The Eating Attitudes and Mental Health in Japanese Female University Students
