Eating disorders and related stigma: analysis among a population of Italian nursing students

Eating disorders and related stigma: analysis among a population of Italian nursing students

Authors

  • Roberto Lupo Hospital “San Giuseppe da Copertino”, ASL (Local Health Authority) (Le), Italy
  • Melania Zaminga R.S.S.A. “Villa Oria” Melpignano (Le), Italy
  • Maria Chiara Carriero Santa Chiara Institute, Rome, Italy
  • Pietro Santoro MathCounseling, Lecce, Italy
  • Giovanna Artioli IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, AUSL Italy
  • Antonino Calabrò 6) “Nuovo Ospedale degli Infermi” Hospital, ASL (Local Health Authority) Biella (BS) Italy
  • Federica Ilari University of Piemonte Orientale; Biella (BS), Italy
  • Angelo Benedetto “Umberto I” Hospital, Siracusa (SR), (Italy)
  • Manuela Caslini Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan (MI), Italy
  • Massimo Clerici Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan (MI), Italy
  • Luana Conte Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research Applied to Medicine (DReAM), University of Salento and ASL (Local Health Authority), Lecce (LE), Italy
  • Maicol Carvello a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:21:"University of Bologna";}

Keywords:

anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, eating disorders, nursing student, stigma

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, eating disorders are a constantly growing public health problem in industrialized countries with an important stigmatizing impact. The study investigates stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes towards Anorexia nervosa (AN) and Bulimia nervosa (BN). Materials and Methods: From October 2018 to November 2019, an online survey was conducted for students of the Degree Courses in Nursing of 2 Italian university centres, using the Italian version of the SAB-BN-ITA, adapted for AN. Results: The sample consists of 517 nursing students, aged between 20 and 23. Male subjects presented higher scores, relative to stigma, both for BN (F =17.5, p <0.001) and for AN (F = 1 9.64, p <0.001). For the sample the main trigger factor of BN is the influence of the media (56.67), the lack of social support (53.19) and parental care (51.84). The association between the stigmatizing views was explored through Spearman’s correlation and a linear regression model between the two overall scores (coeff. 0.73; p <0.001: r-squared 0.52). The ‘self-regulation’ is the stigmatizing opinions for AN (Coeff. 0.0768; p <0.001; r-squared 0.039) and BN (Coeff 0.0684; p <0.001; r-squared 0.030), and the ‘social support’ is stigmatizing opinions for AN (coeff. -0.0713; p = 0.004; r-squared 0.016). Conclusions: The study shows that the male gender has a higher level of stigma than the female one. Moreover, a large number of students consider media influence to be the main causative factor in the onset of ADs, in addition to the lack of social support.

Author Biography

Luana Conte, Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research Applied to Medicine (DReAM), University of Salento and ASL (Local Health Authority), Lecce (LE), Italy

Other affiliation:

Laboratory of Biomedical Physics and Environment, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, University of Salento, Lecce (LE), Italy

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Published

30-11-2020

How to Cite

1.
Eating disorders and related stigma: analysis among a population of Italian nursing students. Acta Biomed [Internet]. 2020 Nov. 30 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];91(12-S):e2020011. Available from: https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/10797