Identifying predictors associated with the severity of eating concerns in females with eating disorders

Abstract

Considering how to improve efficacy of therapeutic strategies, the overall objective of the present study was to investigate the extent of eating concerns and to identify predictors associated with the severity of disordered eating symptomatology among people with eating pathologies. We screened 80 female eating disordered patients, ranging from 13 to 40 years, by means of self-report measures of parental behavior as perceived by the offspring, self-esteem, perfectionism, body shame and eating disorder severity. Self-reported weight and height were obtained. The diagnosis of bulimia nervosa resulted to be associated with a greater severity of the eating symptomatology. Maladaptive perfectionism, body shame and self-esteem, significantly predicted the level of eating concerns. The recognition of potential maintaining factors may support the choice of particular therapeutic strategies to improve the treatment of eating pathologies and their outcomes.

Keywords

• Eating disorders
• Parental bonding
• Self-esteem
• Perfectionism
• Body shame