A study on the relationship between eating attitudes, parental attitudes and depression among college student

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the eating attitudes of university students aged 18 to 24 and parental attitudes/depression as well as to obtain demographic and descriptive information about eating attitudes, parental attitudes and depression levels. For this purpose, 415 participants were administered the following scales; Personal Information Form, Eating Attitude Test Short Form (EAT-26), Parental Attitude Scale (ABTS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The data obtained from the scales were analyzed with SPSS.25 statistical package program. According to the findings of the study; there was an inverse relationship between the ages of the students and the protective-demanding attitudes of their parents. A positive correlation was found between BDI and diet/bulumia and preoccupation with eating/eating control scores. A negative correlation was found between democratic attitude scores and BDI/diet/bulemia and preoccupation with eating/eating control scores. A positive correlation was found between protective-demanding attitude scores and BDI/diet/bulumia and preoccupation with eating scores. There was a positive correlation between authoritarian attitude scores and BDI/bulumia and eating preoccupation scores. The variable that showed the most statistically significant correlation with EAT scores was depression followed by democratic parental attitudes. The genders of the students and their BDI/diet scores were compared and the score of female students were significantly higher than male students. Marital status and bulimia and EAT/eating preoccupation scores were compared and the scores of married students were significantly higher. BDI/democratic attitude scores of those who had psychiatric disorders and those who had not were compared and a significant difference was found in results. Those with psychiatric disorders scored higher on BDI. Those who didn't have a psychiatric disorder scored higher on democratic attitude. The educational status of the mother was compared with democratic attitude/protective-demanding attitude/authoritarian attitude and BDI, a significant difference was observed. The democratic attitude scores of primary school graduates were lower than the democratic attitude scores of the other groups. The protective-demanding attitude score of the primary school graduate group was higher than the high school graduate group. The authoritarian attitude score of the primary school graduate group was higher than the secondary school graduate group. In summary, there was a significant relationship between eating attitudes, depression and parental attitudes. In clinical practice, it is recommended to rewiew the depression levels and parental attitudes of people with eating attitude disorder.