Potential eating disorder exhibited with daytime functional vulnerabilities associated with sleep problems in Japanese adolescents: A cross‐sectional study

OBJECTIVES: Eating disorders (ED) are serious psychiatric disorders that affect individuals, especially adolescents. It has been suggested that nonclinical ED‐like characteristics are related to sleep problems. We conducted a survey of Japanese adolescents to investigate this claim. METHOD: In this cross‐sectional study, 398 adolescents aged 12–18 years responded to a self‐administered questionnaire survey. We used the Eating Attitudes Test‐26 (EAT‐26) and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) to measure potential ED and sleep problems, respectively. RESULTS: Adolescents with potential ED had significantly higher daytime functional vulnerability potentially associated with sleep problems than those without ED. In particular, problems with a sense of well‐being and physical and mental functioning during the day were significant. In contrast, no significant associations were found between potential ED and sleep initiation, awakenings during the night, early morning awakening, total sleep duration, or overall quality of sleep. Finally, nocturnal and daytime sleep scores were significantly associated with dieting, bulimia, and oral control EAT‐26 subscores. DISCUSSION: Participants with possible ED experienced problems related to well‐being and mental and physical functioning, which are indicators of daytime functional vulnerability potentially associated with sleep problems. Further, adolescents with more severe ED characteristics are more likely to have a higher degree of daytime psychological vulnerability potentially attributable to sleep problems. The study suggested that professionals treating adolescent mental health issues need an approach that comprehensively integrates both sleep problems and potential ED.