Biological, Behavioural, Psychological and Social Predictors of Orthorexia Nervosa Among Young Women in Croatia

This study aimed to explore the relationship between orthorexia nervosa and biological, behavioural, psychological, and social factors among young women in Croatia. A sample of 1,337 adolescent girls aged 18-21 participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing orthorexia and related factors. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, including five predictor blocks (biological, behavioural, psychological, social factors, and health-related social media engagement), explained 36% of the variance in orthorexia symptoms. Social factors contributed the most (10.6%), followed by psychological (9.9%) and behavioural factors (8.7%). Significant predictors of more severe symptoms included restrictive dieting, obsessive-compulsive traits, narcissistic perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, internalisation of thin and muscular ideals, media pressures, and higher engagement with health-related social media content. These findings show the need for educational programmes and interventions aimed at early detection and treatment of orthorexia, protecting the mental and physical health of young women.