Association of Depression and Eating Disorders Among University Students in Lahore

Abstract

Adolescence and young adulthood are the most susceptible age groupsfor developing eating disorders and depression, for both males and females. In thisresearch, we aimed to study the association of depression and eating disorders instudents from different universities of Lahore. It was a quantitative and cross-sectionaldesign and the sample constituted of 327 university students of 17 to 25 years of age.Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Instruments 'EatingAttitudes Test-26' (EAT-26) and 'Center of Epidemiologic Studies Short DepressionScale-10' (CESD-10) were applied to assess presence of depression and eatingdisorders. A score of 20 and above on EAT-26 was considered a cut-off to determinesusceptibility to eating disorders, whereas 10 or more on CESD-10 was the indicatorsfor higher risk for depression. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation,frequency and percentage) were calculated for all continuous and categorical variables.Chi square and odds ratio were applied to assess association between depression andeating disorders. The study participants had higher prevalence of depression than eating disorders (58.3% and 37% respectively). The risk of eating disorders was higher in depressed individuals, especially in young females (21 years old and younger), who also had higher susceptibility towards both depression and eating disorders. Individualsbelonging to middle-income families and those who paid rent were more depressed. Significant association was seen between being a day-scholar and higher risks of eating disorders. Although, results revealed that association between eating disorders and depression were not significant (p=0.226), but depressed participants had higher chances of having eating disorders.