Body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in students of a private university: A correlational study; [Insatisfacción corporal y los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en estudiantes de una universidad privada: Un estudio correlacional]

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction is a growing phenomenon among university students, influenced by social, psychological, and cultural factors, and characterized by the discrepancy between perceived body image and the desired body ideal. The objective of this research was to determine whether there is a relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in a sample of students from a private university in Peru. A quantitative study was conducted with a non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational design. The sample consisted of 306 students of both sexes who were administered the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-14) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), instruments with adequate metric properties. To determine whether a significant relationship existed between the study variables, the Spearman Rho correlation coefficient was applied. Preliminary results indicated that students experienced a mild level of body dissatisfaction and did not show a significant risk of developing eating disorders. Additionally, it was determined that the Spearman Rho correlation coefficient between the two variables was 0.602, and the p-value was below the significance level (p < 0.01). Finally, it was concluded that there is a direct and significant relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in a sample of students from a private university in Peru. Therefore, it is recommended to implement prevention programs in universities that promote a positive body image and educate about the risks of eating disorders. © 2024 Federacion Espanola de Docentes de Educacion Fisica. All rights reserved.