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

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.