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Enduring value of perfectionism and maturity fears for predicting eating disorder maintenance over 10‐, 20‐, and 30‐year follow‐up
Author(s) -
Fitzgerald Elizabeth H.,
Wick Madeline R.,
Keel Pamela K.
Publication year - 2021
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.23412
Subject(s) - perfectionism (psychology) , psychology , distrust , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , eating disorders , maturity (psychological) , interpersonal communication , bulimia nervosa , psychiatry , developmental psychology , social psychology , psychotherapist
Objective The Eating Disorder Inventory provides a theoretically informed multidimensional assessment of eating disorder symptoms and associated psychological factors widely used to examine the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Yet, mixed findings for some factors raise questions about whether their prognostic value varies as a function of duration of follow‐up or type of eating pathology studied. Method The current study compared prognostic value of perfectionism, maturity fears, and interpersonal distrust as predictors of restrictive versus bulimic symptom patterns at 10‐, 20‐, and 30‐year follow‐up in N = 127 individuals diagnosed with eating disorders at baseline. Multivariable regression analyses and statistical comparison of effect sizes were used. Results Drive for Thinness at 10‐ and 30‐year follow‐up was predicted by higher Perfectionism and higher Maturity Fears at baseline. Baseline Maturity Fears also predicted higher Drive for Thinness at 20‐year follow‐up and higher Bulimia at 10‐ and 20‐year follow‐up. Interpersonal Distrust did not demonstrate prognostic significance in multivariable models. Comparisons of effect sizes support that some differences in statistical significance reflect differences in prognostic value of psychological factors. Discussion Both duration of follow‐up and type of pathology impact the predictive value of psychological factors and have important implications for understanding illness maintenance. Findings support the utility of targeting Perfectionism for restrictive symptoms. Developing interventions focused on Maturity Fears may provide a novel approach to reducing both restrictive and bulimic symptoms.