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State self‐esteem ratings in women with bulimia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in remission
Author(s) -
Daley Karen A.,
Jimerson David C.,
Heatherton Todd F.,
Metzger Eran D.,
Wolfe Barbara E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20447
Subject(s) - bulimia nervosa , dieting , psychology , self esteem , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , psychiatry , rating scale , eating disorders , developmental psychology , medicine , weight loss , obesity , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: Bulimia nervosa (BN) is associated with low self‐esteem. This study was designed to assess whether low self‐esteem persists in nondepressed individuals who have recovered from BN (BN‐R). Method: Study groups included BN ( n = 22), BN‐R ( n = 20), and healthy controls ( n = 42). Participants were medication‐free, and none met criteria for current major depression. Assessment instruments included the State Self‐Esteem Scale (SSES), a self‐rating scale designed to measure state‐related changes in self‐esteem. Results: Consistent with previous reports, SSES scores for BN were lower than for controls ( p < .001). For BN‐R, SSES scores were higher than for BN ( p < .001), but lower than for controls ( p < .025). For BN‐R, scores on the SSES Appearance subscale were inversely correlated with ratings of dietary restraint ( p < .005). Conclusion: This study provides new evidence for persistent low self‐esteem following recovery from BN. Follow‐up studies are needed to assess whether low self‐esteem contributes to recurrent dieting and risk for relapse. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2008