Collegiate Survey Project
Why the Collegiate Survey Project?
The study was launched in response to the volume of requests NEDA receives for information about eating disorder-related services on campuses, as the rate of eating disorders among college students has risen to 10 to 20 percent of women and four to 10 percent of men.
The increased pressure and stress of school and leaving home may lead to mental health problems among college students and a greater need for campus services. This is also a period of development in which disordered eating is likely to arise, resurface or worsen for many young men and women. Full-blown eating disorders typically begin between 18 and 21 years of age (Hudson, 2007). Although some students will experiment with dieting and escape unscathed, 35 percent of “normal” dieters progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25 percent progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders (Shisslak & Crago, 1995).
Given that eating disorders are the mental illness with the highest mortality rate (Arcelus, 2011), early detection, intervention and treatment is extremely important and gives an individual the best chance of recovery. Help-seeking decreases significantly when people are not aware of the options available to them (Ben-Porath, 2002; Friedman, 2009; Nolen-Hoeksema, 2006; Gould, 2007).
Survey Overview
In the study, respondents (campus service provider representatives) at 165 participating colleges and universities provided information on eating disorder-related programs and services, including: campus screening and awareness events; educational programs and workshops; counseling services; academic classes or programs; residence life and peer advisor programs; athlete services; and informational resources, such as articles, websites and pamphlets.
The study was approved by Pace University’s Institutional Review Board.
Overview of Results
The Collegiate Survey Project finds that greater funding and resources are needed on college campuses to educate, screen and treat students struggling with eating disorders. According to the survey, access to education, screenings, and mental health resources are critical for early detection and prevention efforts, as well as encouraging affected individuals to seek proper treatment. Overall, 73 percent of the colleges surveyed offer NEDAwareness Week activities and 94.1 percent of all respondents stated it is somewhat (36.1 percent) or very/extremely (58 percent) important.
Athletes were identified as a particularly underserved population on campus. While 100 percent of the respondents that offer education and screenings for athletes stated it is very/extremely important, only 2.5 percent of schools surveyed offer year-round prevention and education for athletes and only 22 percent offer screenings and referrals. Results indicate that additional funding and resources are necessary in order to meet the needs of students nationwide.
Add or Update Listing in NEDA’s Directory of Programs and Services on College Campuses in the U.S.
Don’t see your school listed in the directory of programs and services at colleges/universities in the U.S.? Need to update your school’s listing?
Staff members of departments involved with development and implementation of eating disorder-related programs and services on campus are encouraged to fill out the Submission Form for Additions/Changes to the NEDA Directory of Programs and Services.
Not on staff, but know that your school has programs and services available?
Send the link to your school’s counseling center or other departments responsible for eating disorder-related programs/services, and ask them to submit your school for inclusion on the NEDA directory: Eating Disorders on the College Campus: Submission Form for Additions/Changes to the NEDA Directory of Programs and Services
Get Connected with Colleagues on Other Campuses
Connect with fellow professionals involved in the development or implementation of eating disorder-related programs and services on a college campuses to share knowledge about resources available to students, successful strategies for outreach and implementation, program evaluation and more.
Already a member of the directory of campus staff working to develop and implement eating disorder-related programs and services? Request a current list of the directory members.
Special Thanks
This project was made possible thanks to the help of the following people, who dedicated so much time, expertise and talent.
Collegiate Survey Project Committee:
Dr. Michael Levine
Dr. Pam Carlton
Dr. Sharon Davie
Dr. Shelly Steinwurtzel (NEDA Junior Board)
Final Report:
Elizabeth Saviteer, MS
Yasemin Merwede
Françoise Vermeylen (Cornell Statistical Consulting Unit)
Jaina Teeluck (Graphic Design & Layout)
Chuck Eng (Directory of Programs & Resources Design)Collegiate survey project
