Self-image and eating disorder symptoms in normal and clinical adolescents

• Eating disorders (ED) are psychiatric disorders of multifactorial origin, predominantly appearing in adolescence. Negative self-image is identified as risk factor, but the association between self-image and ED in adolescents or sex differences regarding such associations remains unclear. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between specific self-image aspects and ED symptoms in normal and clinical adolescents, including sex differences. Participants included 855 ED patients (girls = 813, boys = 42) and 482 normal adolescents (girls = 238, boys = 244), 13-15 years. Stepwise regression demonstrated strong associations between self-image and ED in normal adolescents (girls: R-2 = .31, boys: R-2 = .08), and stronger associations in patients (girls: R-2 = .64, boys: R-2 = .69). Qualitative sex differences were observed in patients. Connections between specific self-image aspects and ED have implications for clinical management of ED. The strong link between self-image variables and ED symptoms in normal girls, but not boys, is discussed in terms of the continuity-discontinuity hypothesis. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescents

Eating disorder

SASB

Self-image

Gender differences

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)