Self-esteem relationship between eating attitudes of students studying at a university

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the relation between eating attitudes and self-esteem of university students. MATERIAL-METHOD: 9103 undergraduate and associate degree students studying at a university central campus formed the study population of descriptive study. The sample of the study consisted of 500 students. In order to determine the students to be selected for sampling, the number of students studying in the faculties and colleges were listed, and the number of students to be sampled from faculties and colleges and stratum volume were determined. The questionnaire, Eating Attitude Test and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used as data collection tools. Necessary permissions were obtained for the implementation of the research. In the analysis of the data , the number- percent, X2 (chi-square) and Spearman correlation test was used. RESULTS: 52.4% of students are male and 70.6% of the all students are normal weight. 32.2 % of students received 30 points and over in the Eating Attitude Test. The level of students' class, the increase of maternal education levels and having a fat person in his family had a positive effect on eating behaviors.61.6 % of the students included in the study have moderate self-esteemwas found. Students' self-esteem increased as the grade level increased and it was seen that having a fat person in his family had a positive effect on self-esteem (p <0.05). It was found that there was no relationship between the students' gender, father's educational status and perceived monthly income level and self-esteem (p> 0.05). A very weak negative relationship was found between body mass index and eating attitude test, and there was a very weak positive relationship between body mass index and self esteem . A positive correlation was found between eating attitude score and self-esteem score. CONCLUSION: In this study, body mass index did not affect eating attitude and self-esteem, but it was concluded that there was a relationship between eating attitude and self-esteem. It is recommended that school nurses take part in the studies on eating attitudes and self-esteem to be made for university students. Keywords: nutrition, obesity, school health, eating attitude, self-esteem, school nursing.