The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between eating disorders, physical symptoms, depression and health locus of control.

The research design was a descriptive study done by using a constructive self-report questionnaire. A total of 464 elementary school girls were measured. The instrument was a constructive questionnaire that consisted 136 items. The subjects were divided into 4 groups according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). Data analysis was done by SPSS/WIN Programs using frequency, percentage, mean, SD, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression.

The score of eating disorders differed significantly by BMI : the score was highest in the group of obese students(F=4.208, P=.015). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor of eating disorders was BMI.

These results indicate that Korean elementary school girls need more education and counseling on diet. Also, we should take systematic efforts to reestablish the social standard of beauty to promote normal growth development.

The purpose of the study was to investigate psychological factors such as eating psychopathology, depression, and obsessive-compulsion that might influence self-harm behavior in patients with eating disorders.

Patients with eating disorders (n=135) who visited "M" clinic for eating disorders participated in the study. Data were collected from March to August 2007 using the Eating Disorder Inventory-2, Beck Depression Inventory, Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory, and Self-Harm Inventory (SHI).

The participants scored high on self-harm as well as on depression and obsessive-compulsion. On the SHI, a high frequency of self harm behavior such as 'torturing self with self-defeating thoughts', 'abused alcohol', 'hit self', and 'suicide attempt' were found for the participants. There were significant correlations between most eating psychopathology variables, depression, obsessive-compulsion, and self-harm behavior. 'Interoceptive awareness' (eating psychopathology), depression, and 'checking' (obsessive-compulsion) were significant predictors of self-harm behavior.

Future interventions for patients with eating disorders should focus on assessing the possibility of self-harm and suicidal attempts, especially in those patients with high levels of eating psychopathology, depression, or obsessive-compulsion. Early intervention for depression and obsessive-compulsion could contribute to preventing self-harm and suicide in patients with eating disorders.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between eating disorders and parent-adolescent communication in middle school students.

There were 267 adolescents taken as participants from two middle schools in rural areas. Data were collected from June to July 2005, using the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 questionnaire (23 items) and Parent-Adolescent Communication Inventory (10 items for open family communication, 10 items for problem in family communication). The SPSS Win version 12.0 was used for descriptive analysis, t-test, and partial correlation coefficient.

The mean score on the eating disorder was 2.74 (range: 1-6). Meanwhile, the mean scores on the parentadolescent communication was 3.37 (range: 1-5). There were significant differences in eating disorders according to gender, age, negative perception of the participant's body weight, family's perception of obesity, diet experiences, and BMI. Eating disorders showed a significant negative correlation with parent-adolescent communication.

In this study, there was a significant negative correlation between eating disorders and parent-adolescent communication. In order to prevent an eating disorder, education and training to enhance communication skills should be provided to adolescents and their parents as well.