Link Between Subclinical Eating Disorder And Mental Health Among Female Students Of Panjab University Chandigarh
Reg No: 159
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56450/JEFI.2025.v3i2Suppl.062Abstract
Background: Subclinical eating disorders refer to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors that do not meet full diagnostic criteria but still cause significant psychological distress and functional impairment. Young women transitioning to university life are particularly vulnerable due to social comparison, lifestyle changes, altered eating habits, academic pressure, and increased independence. These factors may contribute to anxiety, stress, depression, and body image concerns. Early identification is important to prevent progression to clinical eating disorders.
Aim: To determine the association between subclinical eating disorders and mental health among female students of Panjab University.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To assess the prevalence of subclinical eating disorders.
2. To investigate the association between subclinical eating disorders and mental health status.
3. To examine the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and subclinical eating disorders.
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 229 female students aged 18–35 years at Panjab University using purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 31. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were applied to determine associations.
RESULTS: Among participants, 34.5% (n=79) scored ≥20 on EAT-26, indicating risk of subclinical eating disorders. Significant associations were observed between elevated EAT-26 scores and depression (p=0.006), anxiety (p=0.035), and stress (p=0.001). A statistically significant relationship was also found between BMI and eating disorder risk (p=0.007), with higher prevalence among overweight participants.
CONCLUSION: Subclinical eating disorder risk is prevalent among female university students and is significantly associated with psychological distress and BMI. Early screening, mental health support, and body image interventions within university settings are recommended to prevent progression to clinical disorders.
Downloads
References
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Harnoor Kaur, Garima, Paravreet Kaur, Manoj Kumar (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
