Understanding Disordered Eating Attitudes and Patterns in University Students and the Relationship to Campus Dining Services

Abstract University Students are particularly vulnerable to disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and attitudes (DEA). This study expands upon the knowledge base of DEA and DEB in university students by employing a netnography as a precursor to the main study to establish the following research questions: What is the relationship between the perceived quality of dining services and DEA? What is the relationship between the perceived availability of dining services and DEA? And lastly, how does prior experience with dining services affect eating patterns and attitudes toward food? The first study utilized a netnographic approach in order to evaluate issues with university dining services, leading to the design of the second study. Students at an upper Midwestern university ( n =88) were surveyed via convenience sampling. Eating attitudes, eating behaviors, and relationships with dining services were measured. A statistically significant relationship between the availability of services and DEA was found. A statistically significant relationship between the availability of services and risk behaviors was found. However, no statistically significant correlation existed between first-year dependence on on-campus dining services and risk behavior related to eating disorders or eating attitudes. Based on this, we know the quality of nutrition and the availability of services impacted students’ eating attitudes and behaviors, not inherent dependence.