Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students

Abstract Introduction Pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are two of the three new eating and feeding disorders introduced in the DSM-5, this inclusion has drawn attention to the immediate need for research into their prevalence, diagnostic assessment, underlying risk factors and opti...

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Main Authors: Sara Aleem Haqqi, Siddrah Irfan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Eating Disorders
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00956-z
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author Sara Aleem Haqqi
Siddrah Irfan
author_facet Sara Aleem Haqqi
Siddrah Irfan
author_sort Sara Aleem Haqqi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are two of the three new eating and feeding disorders introduced in the DSM-5, this inclusion has drawn attention to the immediate need for research into their prevalence, diagnostic assessment, underlying risk factors and optimal treatment. There are very few studies available that explored the predictors or causes of these eating disorders specifically in Pakistani context. Objectives The objectives of the current study include (a) to estimate the presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder symptomology among young adults in Pakistan, (b) to examine the relationship between dimensions of impulsivity, stress and presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, (c) to explore the mediation role of stress. Methods The sample consisted of 660 young adults with age range 18–25 years, recruited through convenient sampling. The respondents were provided with a questionnaire comprising of an informed consent, a demographic information sheet and self-report measures including PARDI-AR-Q to assess symptomology of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale to assess dimensions of impulsivity and Perceived Stress Scale to measure perceived stress. Results The findings show that 28 participants (4.2%) reported Pica symptomology, of which eleven participants indicated that they currently consume more than one non-food item. 19 respondents (2.8%) reported avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder symptomology. 13 respondents reported varying degrees of all three symptom clusters namely sensory based food avoidance, lack of interest in food, and fear of negative consequences of eating. Additionally, each of the dimensions of impulsivity was found to be positively correlated to the presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Perceived stress was identified as a mediating factor between each of the dimensions of impulsivity and presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Conclusion Although current study focused on a particular age range, it has drawn attention to the necessity of screening and investigating other strata of Pakistani population for pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. The clinical utility of the present research resided in the identification of factors associated with pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, an information which can be used to tailor psychological interventions, modify existing ones, and inform the future research on evidence-based treatment.
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spelling doaj.art-e734f9af3ab9410193771bafd15e141d2024-01-28T12:06:51ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742024-01-0112111110.1186/s40337-023-00956-zRelationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University studentsSara Aleem Haqqi0Siddrah Irfan1National University of Sciences and TechnologyNational University of Sciences and TechnologyAbstract Introduction Pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are two of the three new eating and feeding disorders introduced in the DSM-5, this inclusion has drawn attention to the immediate need for research into their prevalence, diagnostic assessment, underlying risk factors and optimal treatment. There are very few studies available that explored the predictors or causes of these eating disorders specifically in Pakistani context. Objectives The objectives of the current study include (a) to estimate the presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder symptomology among young adults in Pakistan, (b) to examine the relationship between dimensions of impulsivity, stress and presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, (c) to explore the mediation role of stress. Methods The sample consisted of 660 young adults with age range 18–25 years, recruited through convenient sampling. The respondents were provided with a questionnaire comprising of an informed consent, a demographic information sheet and self-report measures including PARDI-AR-Q to assess symptomology of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale to assess dimensions of impulsivity and Perceived Stress Scale to measure perceived stress. Results The findings show that 28 participants (4.2%) reported Pica symptomology, of which eleven participants indicated that they currently consume more than one non-food item. 19 respondents (2.8%) reported avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder symptomology. 13 respondents reported varying degrees of all three symptom clusters namely sensory based food avoidance, lack of interest in food, and fear of negative consequences of eating. Additionally, each of the dimensions of impulsivity was found to be positively correlated to the presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Perceived stress was identified as a mediating factor between each of the dimensions of impulsivity and presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Conclusion Although current study focused on a particular age range, it has drawn attention to the necessity of screening and investigating other strata of Pakistani population for pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. The clinical utility of the present research resided in the identification of factors associated with pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, an information which can be used to tailor psychological interventions, modify existing ones, and inform the future research on evidence-based treatment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00956-zPicaAvoidant restrictive food intake disorderDimensions of impulsivityStressYoung adults
spellingShingle Sara Aleem Haqqi
Siddrah Irfan
Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students
Journal of Eating Disorders
Pica
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder
Dimensions of impulsivity
Stress
Young adults
title Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students
title_full Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students
title_fullStr Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students
title_full_unstemmed Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students
title_short Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students
title_sort relationship of self reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity perceived stress among pakistani university students
topic Pica
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder
Dimensions of impulsivity
Stress
Young adults
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00956-z
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