Premium
Identity impairment and the eating disorders: content and organization of the self‐concept in women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
Author(s) -
Stein Karen Farchaus,
Corte Colleen
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.726
Subject(s) - psychology , anorexia nervosa , eating disorders , bulimia nervosa , schema (genetic algorithms) , cognitive vulnerability , self concept , developmental psychology , cognition , clinical psychology , psychiatry , depressive symptoms , machine learning , computer science
Objective The cognitive model of the self‐concept was used to test the theoretical proposition that disturbances in overall identity development are a core vulnerability that lead to formation of a fat body weight self‐definition and eating disorder symptomatology. Method Structural properties of the self‐concept, availability in memory of a fat body weight self‐schema, and eating disordered attitudes and behaviours were measured in women with anorexia nervosa (AN) ( n = 26), bulimia nervosa (BN) ( n = 53) and controls ( n = 32). Results Women with (AN) and (BN) had fewer positive and more negative and highly interrelated self‐schemas compared to controls, and women with BN showed information processing evidence of a fat self‐schema available in memory. These self‐concept properties predicted eating disordered attitudes and behaviour. Discussion Disturbances in the overall collection of identities—an impoverished self—is an important contributor to eating disorder symptomatology. The development of new positive selves may be an important factor in recovery. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.