The social and cultural predispositions of eating disorders among female school children in Malta

Abstract

The following work is a quantitative research designed to study the various cultural and social factors that may influence unhealthy eating practices and body management habits and may predispose a young Maltese female schoolchild to develop an Eating Disorder. The data collection method used is of the quantitative type with a nationally representative sample having a proportionate representation of each region of the island according to school and population density. The main themes that were described as most relevant by the main contributors in this field were the family, media exposure and personal lifestyle. The questionnaire was specifically constructed to address these themes and to bring to light any patterns, tendencies and correlations from these themes together with the respondents' attitudes and habits.