Emotional intelligence subdimensions as moderators in the association between body dissatisfaction and symptoms of eating disorders among female Mexican adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Strong empirical research has shown a relationship between body dissatisfaction and symptoms of eating disorders (ED) and the direct and combined influence of emotional factors and dimensions of emotional intelligence (EI) on ED symptoms. However, whether these emotional variables and competencies moderate the well-established relationship between body dissatisfaction and ED symptomatology has not yet been tested. Neither have studies of this nature been performed among high at-risk populations such as Mexican female adolescents. Thus, this research aimed to explore the moderator role of EI subdimensions in the relationship between body dissatisfaction and ED symptoms among female adolescents from Sinaloa, Mexico.

METHODS

A total of 485 female adolescents aged 14-19 years old (M = 16.81, SD = 1.33) who were students in middle school, high school, and college completed questionnaires about body dissatisfaction, ED symptomatology, and EI. We conducted moderating analyses.

RESULTS

Subdimensions of EI significantly moderated the relationship between body dissatisfaction and symptoms of ED. For participants high in body dissatisfaction, lower levels in stress management ability and higher levels in the interpersonal EI and Adaptability EI dimensions were associated with higher levels of ED symptomatology.

DISCUSSION

Subdimensions of EI have an important role in moderating the association between body dissatisfaction and symptoms of ED. The findings of this study contribute to improving the knowledge about the role of emotional competencies in ED. Proposals for future research and to improve preventative approaches are discussed.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

This study shows the moderating role of EI dimensions in the well-established relationship between body dissatisfaction and ED symptomatology. The research was conducted with a population at high risk of ED: female adolescents in the northwest of Mexico. Results showed that low Stress management EI, high Adaptability EI, and high Interpersonal EI were associated with higher levels of ED symptomatology among participants with high (but not low) body dissatisfaction. These insightful results have theoretical and practical implications.

Recommendations to encourage participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds in psychiatric genetic studies

We present innovative research practices in psychiatric genetic studies to ensure representation of individuals from diverse ancestry, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, age, body shape and size, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Due to histories of inappropriate and harmful practices against marginalized groups in both psychiatry and genetics, people of certain identities may be hesitant to participate in research studies. Yet their participation is essential to ensure diverse representation, as it is incorrect to assume that the same genetic and environmental factors influence the risk for various psychiatric disorders across all demographic groups. We present approaches developed as part of the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI), a study that required tailored approaches to recruit diverse populations across many countries. Considerations include research priorities and design, recruitment and study branding, transparency, and community investment and ownership. Ensuring representation in participants is costly and funders need to provide adequate support to achieve diversity in recruitment in prime awards, not just as supplemental afterthoughts. The need for diverse samples in genetic studies is critical to minimize the risk of perpetuating health disparities in psychiatry and other health research. Although the EDGI strategies were designed specifically to attract and enroll individuals with eating disorders, our approach is broadly applicable across psychiatry and other fields.

[Disordered eating behaviors: prevalence among Mexican students aged 15-19]

OBJECTIVE

To obtain the prevalence of disordered eating (DE) among student female adolescents from public high schools in 17 urban settings in the Mexican Republic, across age, setting and region.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The sample comprised 4358 female students 15 to 19 years of age. DE was evaluated with a validated and standardized questionnaire for Mexican adolescents with 2 cutoff points: moderate-DE and high-DE.

RESULTS

The total prevalence of moderate-DE was 14.2% and 6.8% for high-DE. Significant statistical differences were found only for high-DE across settings, were the Estado de Mexico reached the highest score (12.1%) and Aguascalientes the lowest (2.1%). The north region obtained the highest scores for both moderate (17.2%) and high-DE (9.7%), whereas the center-west region obtained the second place for moderate-DE (15.1%) and the center region for high-DE (11.5%). The center region showed the lowest scores for moderate-DE (11.5%) and the south-southeast region the lowest for high-DE (4.5%). The analysis across age showed a positive relationship for both moderate and high-DE.

CONCLUSIONS

The total prevalence of DE was 6.8%. Age, socioeconomic status and the place of residence seem to be variables that relate to disordered eating.