The prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical students
BackgroundEating disorders (EDs) are among the most serious forms of psychiatric illness, potentially leading to multi-systemic complications. Owing to their high stress levels, medical students are more likely to experience mental health difficulties that predispose them to developing EDs. Societal...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1507910/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832542340103798784 |
|---|---|
| author | Muneera B. Almahmeed Muna A. Almutawa Yahya M. Naguib Yahya M. Naguib |
| author_facet | Muneera B. Almahmeed Muna A. Almutawa Yahya M. Naguib Yahya M. Naguib |
| author_sort | Muneera B. Almahmeed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundEating disorders (EDs) are among the most serious forms of psychiatric illness, potentially leading to multi-systemic complications. Owing to their high stress levels, medical students are more likely to experience mental health difficulties that predispose them to developing EDs. Societal stigmatization and misinformation, especially in a middle eastern context, contribute to the underreporting and challenges in seeking the appropriate treatment at an early stage, increasing the risk of complications and mortality. EDs remain an under-studied phenomena in the middle east, limiting understanding and treatment options.ObjectiveThe objectives of the current study were to assess the prevalence of EDs, potential contributing factors, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as an independent global stressor among medical students at the Arabian Gulf University.MethodsThis cross-sectional study consisted of a three-part self-administered questionnaire comprising of demographic data, the Eating Attitudes-26 (EAT-26) test, and COVID-19 associated stressors. The study was conducted on medical students at the AGU in the preparatory year up to Year 6. Data was collected from September 2022 to February 2023.ResultsThree hundred and ninety-seven students were recruited in the present study. 32.1% of the tested students demonstrated an elevated risk for developing EDs. Living situation, earlier years of study, and mental health status were significantly associated with increased risk. Response to global stressors such as COVID-19 pandemic was significantly correlated to worsening EDs status in high-risk individuals.ConclusionEating disorders have been discovered to be highly prevalent among medical students, which brings to light an undervalued health concern. This warrants both awareness programs on campus, and the development of individual-tailored eating disorder treatment programs to halt progression and increase overall quality of life and education. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dcc75941d40f494c8cfed9aa754cccd8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-dcc75941d40f494c8cfed9aa754cccd82025-02-04T06:31:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15079101507910The prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical studentsMuneera B. Almahmeed0Muna A. Almutawa1Yahya M. Naguib2Yahya M. Naguib3College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, BahrainCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, BahrainPhysiology Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, BahrainClinical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, EgyptBackgroundEating disorders (EDs) are among the most serious forms of psychiatric illness, potentially leading to multi-systemic complications. Owing to their high stress levels, medical students are more likely to experience mental health difficulties that predispose them to developing EDs. Societal stigmatization and misinformation, especially in a middle eastern context, contribute to the underreporting and challenges in seeking the appropriate treatment at an early stage, increasing the risk of complications and mortality. EDs remain an under-studied phenomena in the middle east, limiting understanding and treatment options.ObjectiveThe objectives of the current study were to assess the prevalence of EDs, potential contributing factors, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as an independent global stressor among medical students at the Arabian Gulf University.MethodsThis cross-sectional study consisted of a three-part self-administered questionnaire comprising of demographic data, the Eating Attitudes-26 (EAT-26) test, and COVID-19 associated stressors. The study was conducted on medical students at the AGU in the preparatory year up to Year 6. Data was collected from September 2022 to February 2023.ResultsThree hundred and ninety-seven students were recruited in the present study. 32.1% of the tested students demonstrated an elevated risk for developing EDs. Living situation, earlier years of study, and mental health status were significantly associated with increased risk. Response to global stressors such as COVID-19 pandemic was significantly correlated to worsening EDs status in high-risk individuals.ConclusionEating disorders have been discovered to be highly prevalent among medical students, which brings to light an undervalued health concern. This warrants both awareness programs on campus, and the development of individual-tailored eating disorder treatment programs to halt progression and increase overall quality of life and education.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1507910/fullmental healthbehaviorstresseating disordersmedical studentsglobal stressors |
| spellingShingle | Muneera B. Almahmeed Muna A. Almutawa Yahya M. Naguib Yahya M. Naguib The prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical students Frontiers in Psychology mental health behavior stress eating disorders medical students global stressors |
| title | The prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical students |
| title_full | The prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical students |
| title_fullStr | The prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical students |
| title_short | The prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical students |
| title_sort | prevalence of and the effect of global stressors on eating disorders among medical students |
| topic | mental health behavior stress eating disorders medical students global stressors |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1507910/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT muneerabalmahmeed theprevalenceofandtheeffectofglobalstressorsoneatingdisordersamongmedicalstudents AT munaaalmutawa theprevalenceofandtheeffectofglobalstressorsoneatingdisordersamongmedicalstudents AT yahyamnaguib theprevalenceofandtheeffectofglobalstressorsoneatingdisordersamongmedicalstudents AT yahyamnaguib theprevalenceofandtheeffectofglobalstressorsoneatingdisordersamongmedicalstudents AT muneerabalmahmeed prevalenceofandtheeffectofglobalstressorsoneatingdisordersamongmedicalstudents AT munaaalmutawa prevalenceofandtheeffectofglobalstressorsoneatingdisordersamongmedicalstudents AT yahyamnaguib prevalenceofandtheeffectofglobalstressorsoneatingdisordersamongmedicalstudents AT yahyamnaguib prevalenceofandtheeffectofglobalstressorsoneatingdisordersamongmedicalstudents |