Bidirectional associations between anxiety and eating disorder symptoms in adolescence: the moderating role of childhood household dysfunction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anxiety and eating disorder (ED) symptoms often emerge during adolescence and frequently co-occur, considerably impairing the physical health and psychosocial functioning. Previous research has largely focused on assessing only one direction of the association between anxiety and ED symptoms. Limited understanding exists regarding the potential bidirectional associations and the role of childhood household dysfunction (CHD) in this association. This study aims to examine the bidirectional association between anxiety and ED symptoms in adolescents and further explore whether CHD moderates this association.

Methods

This longitudinal study was conducted among students from nine high schools in China. A total of 8,703 participants (mean [SD] age at baseline, 15.89 [0.

SUBMITTER: Jiang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12750753 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature