Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors: A Cross-Cultural Study in Colombian and Mexican Adolescents with Eating Disorders

Jaime Humberto Moreno Méndez, María Margarita Rozo Sánchez, Natalia Maldonado Avendaño, Andrés Mauricio Santacoloma Suárez, Julieta Vélez Belmonte, Jesús Adrián Figueroa Hernández, Stephanie Tanus Minutti and Rodrigo César León Hernández ()
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Jaime Humberto Moreno Méndez: Psychology Faculty, Catholic University of Colombia, Bogotá 111311, Colombia
María Margarita Rozo Sánchez: Psychology Faculty, Catholic University of Colombia, Bogotá 111311, Colombia
Natalia Maldonado Avendaño: Psychology Faculty, Catholic University of Colombia, Bogotá 111311, Colombia
Andrés Mauricio Santacoloma Suárez: Psychology Faculty, Catholic University of Colombia, Bogotá 111311, Colombia
Julieta Vélez Belmonte: School of Psychology, Anáhuac University, Puebla 72810, Mexico
Jesús Adrián Figueroa Hernández: School of Psychology, Anáhuac University, Puebla 72810, Mexico
Stephanie Tanus Minutti: School of Psychology, Anáhuac University, Puebla 72810, Mexico
Rodrigo César León Hernández: Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation, Center for Psychological Specialties NEANDI, Mexico City 03810, Mexico

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: In Colombia and Mexico, an increase in emotional, behavioral, and eating problems in adolescents has been documented after the pandemic. The objective was to characterize the relationship between internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescents with eating disorders in Colombia and Mexico according to the adolescents’ self-report and the parents’ report. In Colombia, 17 adolescents between 12 and 18 years old ( M = 15.4; SD = 1.8) and one of their parents ( n = 17); in Mexico, 8 adolescents between 12 and 17 years old ( M = 14.6; SD = 1.6) and one of their parents ( n = 8) were evaluated. The parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the adolescents completed the self-report (YSR) and the EAT-26. The analyses showed a statistically significant correlation between eating problems and anxiety/depression of the YSR ( r = 0.39; p = 0.031). Statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05) were found in the CBCL scores for externalizing problems, somatic complaints, and rule-breaking behavior; all scores were higher in the Colombian sample. The findings provided partial support for differences between adolescents with eating disorders and parental reports. A higher percentage of clinical levels was reported by adolescents compared to their parents, except for the anxious/depressive and aggressive behavior subscales.

Keywords: adolescents; cross-cultural study; eating disorders; emotional problems; externalizing behaviors; internalizing behaviors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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