The Relationship of Dissociation Experiences and Alexithymia with Eating Attitudes in Female Students of Ahvaz University

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between dissociation experience, and alexithymia and eating attitudes in female students of Ahvaz University. Materials and Methods:The present study had a cross sectional design. Overall, 325 female undergraduate students were selected by multi-phase random clustering and completed the following rating scales; eating attitudes test-26 (EAT-26), alexithymia questionnaire (TAS-20), dissociative experiences scale (DES-28). Data analysis was done using the Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: With the Pearson method, we found a correlation between alexithymia and eating attitudes (P = 11.3), and a significant positive correlation between dissociative experiences and eating attitudes (P = 36.8) was also found. The multi-variable correlation coefficient for alexithymia and dissociative experiences with eating attitudes in female students was respectively MR = 37.0 and MR = 11.3, and F ratio was respectively equal to 36.7 and 2.86, which was significant at P = 0.001 and P = 0.092. Conclusions: This study highlights the association between eating attitudes, and dissociation experiences and alexithymia, yet dissociation experiences were more relevant and a stronger predictor for eating attitudes.