Bi-directional associations between depressive symptoms and eating disorder symptoms in early adolescence

Despite frequently co-occurring, the temporal relationship between depression and eating disorder symptoms remains poorly understood. This exploratory study sought to investigate the reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and (1) shape and weight dissatisfaction, (2) shape and weight overvaluation, (3) preoccupation with shape or weight, (4) preoccupation with food, (5) dietary restraint and (6) binge eating in early adolescence. Adolescents (N = 1393) aged between 11.4 and 13.9 years (M = 12.50, SD = 0.38) completed the Centre for Epidemiological Depression Scale-Revised and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-Adolescent version at the beginning of secondary school (T1) and 12-months later (T2). Cross-lagged models were created to assess the reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and ED symptoms. Depressive symptoms at T1 predicted shape and weight dissatisfaction, shape and weight overvaluation, preoccupation with shape or weight, preoccupation with food, dietary restraint and binge eating at T2. Shape and weight dissatisfaction and binge eating were the only ED symptoms at T1 to predict depressive symptoms at T2. Findings suggest young adolescents who experience depressive symptoms in their first year of secondary school are at-risk of developing ED symptoms over the subsequent 12-month period.