Latent Profile Analysis of Eating Disorders and Emotional Well-being in College
Students
Authors:   School of Life Sciences.
            Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. Address: John Boyd Dunlop st, S/N - Jardim
            Ipajussara. Campinas – SP, Brazil., Marques Letícia , Silva Laura ,   School of Life Sciences.
            Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. Address: John Boyd Dunlop st, S/N - Jardim
            Ipajussara. Campinas – SP, Brazil., Freires Evelin ,   School of Life Sciences.
            Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. Address: John Boyd Dunlop st, S/N - Jardim
            Ipajussara. Campinas – SP, Brazil., Vitta Amanda ,   School of Life Sciences.
            Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. Address: John Boyd Dunlop st, S/N - Jardim
            Ipajussara. Campinas – SP, Brazil., Scatena Adriana ,   Universidade Federal de São
            Paulo. Adress: Napoleão de Barros st, 1038. Vila Clementino. São Paulo-SP.
            Brazil., Semolini Fernando ,   Universidade Federal de São
            Paulo. Adress: Napoleão de Barros st, 1038. Vila Clementino. São Paulo-SP.
            Brazil., Andrade André ,   School of Life Sciences.
            Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. Address: John Boyd Dunlop st, S/N - Jardim
            Ipajussara. Campinas – SP, Brazil.
Published: May 2024

Abstract Background: University students face a unique combination of academic
pressures, transitional life stages, and potential social isolation, which can
contribute to the development of unhealthy eating patterns and emotional problems.
Objectives: To explore the association between quality of life, emotional problems, and
eating disorders (ED) among university students, using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to
identify distinct eating profiles. Methods: This cross-sectional exploratory study
involved a total of 1,798 university students from Brazil and Canada (mean age= 21.2;
women = 78.4%). The instruments used included the Addiction-like Eating Behaviour Scale
(AEBS), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), WHOQOL-bref, Yale Food
Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and
Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P). Results: The LPA, conducted based on the AEBS raw
scores due to the absence of diagnostic criteria, identified three eating behavior
profiles: Profile 1 with lower scores in AEBS and YFAS, indicating a healthy eating
pattern; Profile 2 with high scores, reflecting eating compulsion; and Profile 3 with
intermediate characteristics. Profile 2, associated with higher levels of anxiety,
depression, and stress, showed a significantly reduced quality of life. No differences
were detected regarding nationality, gender, type of university, or housing. Conclusion:
The results highlight the complex relationships between eating behavior, mental health,
and quality of life in university students, underscoring the need for targeted
interventions to improve their well-being. Thus, ED and their consequent impact on
mental health and quality of life are increasingly recognized as critical issues among
university students, a group uniquely vulnerable to such challenges due to transitional
life stages and academic pressures. Keywords: Latent Profile Analysis, Eating Disorders,
University Students, Mental Health, Cross-Sectional Study.