Prevalence of eating disorders and its association with sleep quality among female students of kindergarten teacher college in Hefei city

Objective To investigate the prevalence of eating disorders and its related factors among 14 to 21 years old female kindergarten teacher college students and to provide basis for implementing early screening and intervention. Methods With random cluster sampling,2 371 female students were measured with Eating Disorder Inventory(EDI),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS),and a self-administered questionnaire in October 2010. Results The estimated prevalence of eating disorders in the students was 7.09% (168/2 371). The highest prevalence was observed in the students aged 18 years(10.6%,41/388).The students of grade 5 had the highest prevalence(10.5%,43/411).The eating disorders scores among the students with abnormal body mass(too thin, underweight,normal,and overweight)were significantly different(F=26.79,P<0.01).Eating disorders prevalence among the students with different parents relationship,economic status,mass media concerning,and dieting status among relatives or friends were diffenent(P<0.01).The related factors of eating disorders were anxiety,concerning about the idol at media, depression,body mass index(BMI),sleep quality,age,and whether with the friends on dieting among the students. Conclusion The prevalence of eating disorders was high in kindergarten teacher college female students.Proper health education,reasonable diet,and regular sleep are the keys to reduce the occurrence of eating disorders.