Biological, cultural, and psychological factors that may predispose young adults to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders

This study investigated the extent biological, cultural, and psychological factors predispose individuals to eating disorders and compared the prevalence between (N = 103) male and female students (18-27 years of age) from Mississippi State University (MSU). Data was collected from the Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care (ESP), a media consumption questionnaire, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS), the Diet History Questionnaire III (DHQ III), the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. Age of onset was collected if participants identified as having an eating disorder. Data was analyzed using the Mann-Whitey U test and Pearson correlations to determine biological, cultural, and psychological susceptibility. This study determined that there are significant biological, cultural, and psychological predispositions that should be considered when diagnosing and treating individuals with eating disorders. Findings from MSU students were compared to current evidence and provides a basis for the development of future studies