Is problematic internet use an indicator of eating disorders among Turkish university students?

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between problematic internet use and eating attitudes in a group of university students. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 314 students attending programs at the faculties of education, medicine and communications at the Karadeniz Technical University in Turkey. One hundred forty-seven (46.8 %) were male and 167 (53.2 %) female. The Problematic Internet Use Scale was used to measure problematic internet use levels among university students and the Eating Attitudes Test to determine anorexia nervosa symptoms. Additionally, a Personal Data Form was used to determine age, gender, faculty attended and computer ownership. Data were analyzed on SPSS 15.00. Pearson's product moments correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression analysis, the independent t test and one-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The research findings showed that 46.8 % of students were female and 53.2 % male. Mean age was 20.65 (SD 1.42). Analysis showed a significant positive correlation between problematic internet use and eating attitudes (r = 0.77, p < 0.01). Problematic internet use was found to be a significant predictor of eating attitudes. The results also showed a significant difference in problematic internet use with regard to program variables [F (2,311) = 102.79]. There were no significant differences in problematic internet use in terms of gender or computer ownership. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that problematic internet use is significantly correlated with eating disorders, that problematic internet use does not vary on the basis of gender or computer ownership and that variations arise in problematic internet use depending on the faculty attended.

Does educational stress mediate the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and academic life satisfaction in teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The present study aims to investigate the mediator role of educational stress in the relationship between intolerance to uncertainty and academic life satisfaction among teenagers. The sample consisted of 257 female and 202 male high school students with an average age of 16.03 (SD = 1.21) continuing their education in the spring semester of the 2020-2021 academic year in Turkey. The data were collected via an online survey. Analyses revealed that intolerance of uncertainty directly and indirectly via educational stress affects the academic life satisfaction of teenagers. Educational stress partially mediates the relationship. It was also found that the full mediation model has a good fit with the data. The academic life satisfaction of teenagers was harmed by their tendencies in tolerating the uncertainties they have been facing during the COVID-19 pandemic and elevated levels of educational stress.

Does child abuse have an impact on self-esteem, depression, anxiety and stress conditions of individuals?

BACKGROUND: The present study addressed the effects of child abuse in early adulthood. AIMS: The purpose of the study was to determine the direct and indirect effects of child abuse on self-esteem, depression, anxiety and stress levels. METHOD: The participants of the study were 636 students (477 females and 159 males) studying at three different state universities in Turkey. Data were collected through 'Childhood Trauma Questionnaire', 'Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)', 'Two-Dimensional Self-Esteem Scale (Self-Liking/Self-Competence)' and 'Demographic Information Form'. The obtained data were analyzed with Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and path analysis techniques via SPSS 23 and AMOS 22. RESULTS: Considering the relationship between the variables, child abuse was found to be negatively correlated with self-esteem, while it was positively correlated with depression, anxiety and stress. As a result of the path analysis, it was observed that child abuse affected self-esteem directly in the negative way. Throughout the analysis, self-esteem was found to have a direct and negative effect on depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. Child abuse was also found to have an indirect effect on depression, anxiety and stress. CONCLUSION: Self-esteem had full mediation effect between child abuse, and depression, anxiety and stress.

The Role of Traumatic Childhood Experiences in Predicting a Disposition to Risk-Taking and Aggression in Turkish University Students.

The purpose of this research was to determine whether or not traumatic childhood experiences in childhood predict a disposition to risk-taking and aggression among university students. The participants consisted of 851 students: 477 (56.1%) females and 374 (43.9%) males attending various faculties at the Karadeniz Technical University in Turkey. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Adolescent Risk-Taking Scale, Aggression Questionnaire, and Personal Information Form were used for data collection. The analysis results revealed a positive correlation between traumatic experiences (physical, sexual, emotional maltreatment, and emotional neglect) and risk-taking and aggression. Physical and sexual abuse and gender are significant predictors of risk-taking. Physical abuse and gender are some of the predictors of aggression. Another finding from the study is that physical and emotional abuse and emotional neglect vary by gender. This study concludes that exposure to traumatic experiences in childhood prepares the foundation for negative behaviors in adulthood.

Effects of individual factors on adolescent obesity: study in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, eating habits, adolescent weight perception and weight changes on obesity in Turkish adolescents. METHODS: A total of 87 normal weight and 78 obese participants were included in the study. They were selected from adolescents who had no other health problems beside obesity. Underweight and overweight adolescents were excluded. Estimation of prevalence of overweight and obesity were based on cut-off points of the International Obesity Task Force (excess of the 85th and 95th percentiles, respectively). The prevalence of underweight was defined as the percentage of adolescents below the fifth percentiles of the US adolescents' age- and gender-specific body mass index. A structured questionnaire that included sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, eating habits, weight questions about adolescents' weight perception and weight changes was administered to the participants. RESULTS: In the obese group, the level of the mothers' and fathers' education was lower than in the normal group (P = 0.006; P = 0.001, respectively). Obese adolescents had fewer obese people in their family (P = 0.001). There were statistically significant correlations between groups for fathers' occupation, joining in cultural activities, physical exercise, feeling about body shape and food preference (P = 0.014; P = 0.001; P = 0.003; P = 0.001; P = 0.001, respectively). Increase in weight was larger in the obese group (P= 0.001) and those who wanted to loose weight but failed (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are associations between obesity and level of mothers' and fathers' education, number of obese people in family, fathers' occupation, joining in cultural activities, physical exercise and food preference in Turkish adolescents.