SELF-ESTEEM, EATING PROBLEMS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN A COHORT OF SCHOOLGIRLS AGED 15-16 - A QUESTIONNAIRE AND INTERVIEW STUDY

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the extent of eating proble ms and their association with self-esteem in girls aged 15-16. Method: Six hundred and nine schoolgirls aged 15-16 completed a questionnaire examining eating behavior, sell-esteem, and general psychological wel l-being. A subsample of 31 girls was subsequently interviewed in terms of eating behavior and sell-esteem. Results: The questionnaire findin gs revealed that 56% of girls felt too fat and had used some form of w eight control strategy. In addition, 32% scored above the Hospital Anx iety and Depression Scale (HADS) threshold for anxiety and 43% reached the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale criterion for low self-esteem Intervi ews confirmed that those showing abnormal eating behavior in the quest ionnaires did indeed show greater eating pathology as well as lower se lf-esteem Interviews also revealed that those with high levels of eati ng concern showed greater levels of global self-dissatisfaction and hi gher dissatisfaction with their physical appearance and family relatio nships. Discussion: The results suggest that preventative intervention s targeted at girls with low self-esteem may be appropriate. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.