1. Alexithymia and eating disorder symptoms in adolescents.
- Author
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Karukivi M, Hautala L, Korpelainen J, Haapasalo-Pesu KM, Liuksila PR, Joukamaa M, and Saarijarvi S
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Female, Finland epidemiology, Humans, Male, Multivariate Analysis, Risk Factors, Young Adult, Affective Symptoms epidemiology, Feeding and Eating Disorders epidemiology
- Abstract
An increasing amount of evidence indicates an association between alexithymia and eating disorder symptoms. This possible association was evaluated in a non-clinical sample of late adolescents. Seven hundred and twenty nine adolescents completed the questionnaire and formed the final sample. Alexithymia was measured using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and eating disorder symptoms were assessed using the SCOFF questionnaire. The rate of alexithymia was 8.2%, without any gender difference. The mean SCOFF scores differed significantly between alexithymic and non-alexithymic subjects, and the share of SCOFF positive subjects was significantly higher among alexithymics. The results suggest that eating disorder symptoms are more common in alexithymic adolescents.
- Published
- 2010
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