The role of body-esteem in academic functioning problems associated with eating disturbances

Objective: To explore the role of body-esteem and self-esteem in the occurrence of academic functioning problems associated with eating disturbances. Participants: 330 university students (aged 16–53 years) in Finland in 2016. Method: Interference with academic functioning measured with the Eating and Body Image Academic Interference Scale. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to describe the relationship of body-esteem, global self-esteem, and age with academic functioning problems associated with eating disturbances. Results: The level of academic functioning problems was low. High appearance-esteem (OR = 0.26; 95% CI [0.14–0.48]) and a five-year increase in age (OR = 0.68; 95% CI [0.52–0.89]) provided protection against academic functioning problems, whereas high evaluations attributed to others about one’s body and appearance increased the odds of such problems (OR = 2.25; 95% CI [1.41–3.59]). Conclusion: Problems in academic functioning may relate to problems in eating behavior, body image, and feelings about appearance.