Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research On High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, 712082, Xianyang, People's Republic of China.
Key Laboratory of High Altitude Hypoxia Environment and Life Health, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, 712082, Xianyang, People's Republic of China.
BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Dec 21;23(1):957. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05452-x.
Depression is being increasingly acknowledged as a global public health concern, and following this trend, attention towards eating disorders (EDs) has surged within China's national consciousness. EDs symptoms frequently coexist with various mental health conditions, including depression. However, research focusing on EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms among Tibetan students in China remains scant. This study employs network analysis to estimate the relational network between EDs and depressive symptoms.
Tibetan (n = 2,582) and Han (n = 1,743) students from two universities in the Xizang Autonomous Region, China, completed the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We estimated the network structure of EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms, identified central and bridge symptoms, and examined whether network characteristics differed by gender and ethnic.
The core symptoms identified within this study were Calorie_awareness, Desire_to_thin and Fatigue. Conversely, bridge symptoms included Appetite, Suicide, Anhedonia, Guilty, Body_fat_awareness, and Food_preoccupation. The study also revealed no significant gender differences within the network model. However, disparities among ethnic groups were observed within the network structure.
Our study examined the correlation between EDs symptoms and depressive symptoms in Tibetan college students. Focusing on the individual's quest for the perfect body shape and some Tibetan students' appetite problems - potentially stemming from transitioning to a new university environment, adapting to the school canteen's diet, or being away from their hometown - could aid in the prevention and management of EDs and depression symptoms. It could reduce the incidence of complications by helping students maintain good physical and mental health. Concurrently, our research provides insights into the relatively higher levels of depression triggered by the unique plateau environment.
抑郁症作为一种全球公共卫生问题日益受到关注，在中国的国家意识中，对饮食失调（ED）的关注也随之飙升。ED 症状常与各种心理健康状况并存，包括抑郁症。然而，针对中国藏族学生的 ED 症状和抑郁症状的研究仍然很少。本研究采用网络分析来估计 ED 和抑郁症状之间的关系网络。
来自中国西藏自治区两所大学的藏族（n=2582）和汉族（n=1743）学生完成了饮食态度测试-26（EAT-26）和患者健康问卷-9（PHQ-9）。我们估计了 ED 症状和抑郁症状的网络结构，确定了中心和桥梁症状，并检查了网络特征是否因性别和民族而异。
本研究确定的核心症状包括卡路里意识、渴望变瘦和疲劳。相反，桥梁症状包括食欲、自杀、快感缺失、内疚、体脂意识和对食物的关注。研究还表明，网络模型中不存在显著的性别差异。然而，在网络结构中观察到了民族群体之间的差异。
本研究检查了藏族大学生中 ED 症状和抑郁症状之间的相关性。关注个体对完美体型的追求以及一些藏族学生的食欲问题——可能源于过渡到新的大学环境、适应学校食堂的饮食或远离家乡——有助于预防和管理 ED 和抑郁症状。通过帮助学生保持良好的身心健康，可以减少并发症的发生。同时，我们的研究为高原环境引发的较高水平的抑郁提供了一些见解。
