The relationship between anxiety, coping, and disordered-eating attitudes in adolescent military-dependents at high-risk for excess weight gain

Solomon, S., Shank, L. M., Lavender, J. M., Higgins Neyland, M. K., Gallager-Teske, J., Markos, B., Haynes, H., Repke, H., Rice, A. J., Sbrocco, T., Wilfley, D. E., Schvey, N. A., Jorgensen, S., Ford, B., Ford, C. B., Haigney, M., Klein, D. A., Quinlan, J., & Tanofsky-Kraff, M. (2023). The relationship between anxiety, coping, and disordered-eating attitudes in adolescent military-dependents at high-risk for excess weight gain. Military Psychology, 35(2), 95-106. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2022.2083448

This study examined the association between mental health and disordered eating attitudes among a sample of 136 military-dependent adolescents. Adolescents had a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile and were considered at risk for disordered eating and weight gain. Thus, different coping strategies were also explored that may decrease risk. Adolescents completed questionnaires concerning their anxiety and depressive symptoms and different styles of coping (i.e., aggression, distraction, endurance, self-destruction, stress recognition). Disordered eating attitudes (e.g., dietary restraint, shape concern) were assessed via a clinical interview. Overall, greater anxiety among adolescents was associated with more disordered eating attitudes, but the role of coping was less clear.

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