Eating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in Chinese Tibetan University students: a network analysis
Abstract Background Depression is being increasingly acknowledged as a global public health concern, and following this trend, attention towards eating disorders (EDs) has surged within China’s national consciousness. EDs symptoms frequently coexist with various mental health conditions, including d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05452-x |
| _version_ | 1797376878031405056 |
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| author | Ruipeng Wu Zixuan Guang Yingting Wang Bei Xue Ailing Zhang Yundan Dawa Chenghui Guo Xiaopeng Tong Shaokang Wang Ciyong Lu |
| author_facet | Ruipeng Wu Zixuan Guang Yingting Wang Bei Xue Ailing Zhang Yundan Dawa Chenghui Guo Xiaopeng Tong Shaokang Wang Ciyong Lu |
| author_sort | Ruipeng Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Depression is being increasingly acknowledged as a global public health concern, and following this trend, attention towards eating disorders (EDs) has surged within China’s national consciousness. EDs symptoms frequently coexist with various mental health conditions, including depression. However, research focusing on EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms among Tibetan students in China remains scant. This study employs network analysis to estimate the relational network between EDs and depressive symptoms. Methods Tibetan (n = 2,582) and Han (n = 1,743) students from two universities in the Xizang Autonomous Region, China, completed the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We estimated the network structure of EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms, identified central and bridge symptoms, and examined whether network characteristics differed by gender and ethnic. Results The core symptoms identified within this study were Calorie_awareness, Desire_to_thin and Fatigue. Conversely, bridge symptoms included Appetite, Suicide, Anhedonia, Guilty, Body_fat_awareness, and Food_preoccupation. The study also revealed no significant gender differences within the network model. However, disparities among ethnic groups were observed within the network structure. Conclusions Our study examined the correlation between EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms in Tibetan college students. Focusing on the individual's quest for the perfect body shape and some Tibetan students' appetite problems – potentially stemming from transitioning to a new university environment, adapting to the school canteen's diet, or being away from their hometown – could aid in the prevention and management of EDs and depression symptoms. It could reduce the incidence of complications by helping students maintain good physical and mental health. Concurrently, our research provides insights into the relatively higher levels of depression triggered by the unique plateau environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:44:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ebeede695a7c44499b8e82180620074f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:44:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-ebeede695a7c44499b8e82180620074f2023-12-24T12:25:47ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-12-0123111210.1186/s12888-023-05452-xEating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in Chinese Tibetan University students: a network analysisRuipeng Wu0Zixuan Guang1Yingting Wang2Bei Xue3Ailing Zhang4Yundan Dawa5Chenghui Guo6Xiaopeng Tong7Shaokang Wang8Ciyong Lu9Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu UniversityDepartment of Tibetan Medicine, University of Tibetan Medicine(UTC)Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu UniversityDepartment of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityAbstract Background Depression is being increasingly acknowledged as a global public health concern, and following this trend, attention towards eating disorders (EDs) has surged within China’s national consciousness. EDs symptoms frequently coexist with various mental health conditions, including depression. However, research focusing on EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms among Tibetan students in China remains scant. This study employs network analysis to estimate the relational network between EDs and depressive symptoms. Methods Tibetan (n = 2,582) and Han (n = 1,743) students from two universities in the Xizang Autonomous Region, China, completed the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We estimated the network structure of EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms, identified central and bridge symptoms, and examined whether network characteristics differed by gender and ethnic. Results The core symptoms identified within this study were Calorie_awareness, Desire_to_thin and Fatigue. Conversely, bridge symptoms included Appetite, Suicide, Anhedonia, Guilty, Body_fat_awareness, and Food_preoccupation. The study also revealed no significant gender differences within the network model. However, disparities among ethnic groups were observed within the network structure. Conclusions Our study examined the correlation between EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms in Tibetan college students. Focusing on the individual's quest for the perfect body shape and some Tibetan students' appetite problems – potentially stemming from transitioning to a new university environment, adapting to the school canteen's diet, or being away from their hometown – could aid in the prevention and management of EDs and depression symptoms. It could reduce the incidence of complications by helping students maintain good physical and mental health. Concurrently, our research provides insights into the relatively higher levels of depression triggered by the unique plateau environment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05452-xNetwork analysisDepressive symptomsEating disorders symptomsCollege students |
| spellingShingle | Ruipeng Wu Zixuan Guang Yingting Wang Bei Xue Ailing Zhang Yundan Dawa Chenghui Guo Xiaopeng Tong Shaokang Wang Ciyong Lu Eating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in Chinese Tibetan University students: a network analysis BMC Psychiatry Network analysis Depressive symptoms Eating disorders symptoms College students |
| title | Eating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in Chinese Tibetan University students: a network analysis |
| title_full | Eating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in Chinese Tibetan University students: a network analysis |
| title_fullStr | Eating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in Chinese Tibetan University students: a network analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in Chinese Tibetan University students: a network analysis |
| title_short | Eating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in Chinese Tibetan University students: a network analysis |
| title_sort | eating disorders symptoms and depressive symptoms in chinese tibetan university students a network analysis |
| topic | Network analysis Depressive symptoms Eating disorders symptoms College students |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05452-x |
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