Disordered Eating: Extent and Analysis of Risk Factors
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Authors
Hastings, Natalia
Issue Date
2010
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study cross-sectionally explored bio-developmental (pubertal timing and Body Mass Index) and intra-psychic variables (body dissatisfaction, subjective weight perception, thin ideal internalization, self-esteem, and self-oriented perfectionism) and their links to disordered eating, as measured using the EAT-26 (Garner, Olmsted, Bohr, & Garfinkel, 1982) in 95 middle school girls. The study was informed by the theoretical frameworks of socio-cultural, objectification, multiple risk factor, and cumulative stressor models. Subjective weight perception scaled to reflect discrepancy from a "just right" body and self-oriented perfectionism emerged as the strongest predictors of disordered eating. Two findings challenged the theoretical assumption that being closer to the socio-culturally defined "ideal thin body" is a protective factor for disordered eating. First, girls who reported developing later than peers showed the highest levels of disordered eating. Second, both subjectively underweight and overweight girls reported engaging in disordered eating. The findings suggest that disordered eating in adolescent girls may serve other functions besides controlling and reducing body shape and size. For example, disordered eating may serve as an avoidance coping strategy for managing stress.