Body Dissatisfaction as a Mediator between Identity Formation and Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Adolescents and Emerging Adults

Abstract

Eating disorder symptomatology generally develops during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Previous research has focused on the role of identity formation or body image in the development of eating disorder symptomatology, but integrative work is lacking. For this reason, the present cross-sectional study examined the mediating role of body dissatisfaction in the relation between identity formation and eating disorder symptomatology. Method: The sample comprised 659 participants between 15 and 30 years old (68.9% females; M age = 19.44; SD age = 3.99). All participants completed self-report measures on identity (Self-concept and Identity Measure), body dissatisfaction (the Body Image Feelings and Attitudes subscale of the Body Investment Scale and the Body Dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3), and eating disorder symptomatology (Eating Disorder Inventory-3). Latent variable modeling from a structural equation modeling approach was used. Results: First, identity formation significantly predicted eating disorder symptomatology. Additionally, indirect effects were found linking identity formation to eating disorder symptomatology through the mechanism of body dissatisfaction. No significant differences between males and females or between adolescents and emerging adults on direct or indirect effects were found. Conclusion: The present study indicated that body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between identity formation and eating disorder symptomatology during mid-to-late adolescence and emerging adulthood. Provided that the present findings can be replicated in a future longitudinal study, they demonstrate that both identity formation and body dissatisfaction should be taken into account in prevention and intervention programs targeting eating disorder symptomatology.

Identity Formation, Body Image, and Body-Related Symptoms: Developmental Trajectories and Associations Throughout Adolescence

“…Finally, adolescents in moratorium and troubled diffusion-increasing exploration seemed more vulnerable to develop eating disorder symptoms (i.e., drive for thinness and bulimia). These results are in line with previous research (Palmeroni et al, 2020 ; Raemen et al, 2022 ), indicating that adolescents who are searching for a personal identity without making strong commitments may turn to eating disorder symptoms as identity substitutes.…”

“…Because these adolescents lack a stable sense of identity when they begin to increasingly explore identity alternatives, they may be even more vulnerable to being guided by extrinsic goals and societal ideals, resulting in increased engagement in appearance comparison (Duriez et al, 2012 ). Subsequently, adolescents in these identity trajectory classes experienced higher levels of negative body image and lower levels of positive body image, confirming the established interplay between identity and one’s body image (Palmeroni et al, 2020 ; Verschueren et al, 2018 ). Interestingly, given that the interplay between identity and adolescents’ positive body image is still understudied, these findings suggested that identity formation indeed might be associated with one’s positive body image as well.…”

“…In a recent study, community adolescents who committed to their identity choices reported lower levels of drive for thinness and bulimia (Raemen et al, 2022 ). Previous studies in community adolescents further indicated that experiencing identity problems was associated with increased drive for thinness and bulimia (Palmeroni et al, 2020 ; Vartanian et al, 2018 ). Relatedly, patients with an eating disorder reported more identity problems compared to community controls (Verschueren et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Furthermore, decreasing body esteem predicted lowered identity coherence in emerging adulthood over time (Nelson et al, 2018 ). Further, identity functioning predicted body dissatisfaction over time, whereas body dissatisfaction also predicted maladaptive identity functioning over time (Palmeroni et al, 2020 ; Verschueren et al, 2018 ). Questions concerning the association between identity and positive body image, however, remain largely unanswered, indicating the need to address this topic.…”

Checking the scales: A psychometric evaluation of the Weight Concerns Scale in a sample of college-aged cisgender men from the United States.

“…It is estimated that 70%–80% of college-aged men (Hobza & Rochlen, 2009; Neighbors & Sobal, 2007) and 80%–90% of college-aged women struggle with their body image and weight (De & Chakraborty, 2015; Neighbors & Sobal, 2007). Students with body dissatisfaction are at higher risk for muscle-building supplement and steroid use (Brower et al, 1994; Eik-Nes et al, 2018), binge drinking, dieting (Eik-Nes et al, 2018), depression (Eik-Nes et al, 2018; Paxton et al, 2006), anxiety (Barnes et al, 2020; Regis et al, 2018), eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia (Almeida et al, 2021; Palmeroni et al, 2020), as well as low self-esteem (Paxton et al, 2006). In addition, many collegiate women and men engage in subclinical binge eating and dieting, and nearly one-third engage in compensatory behaviors such as excessive exercise (Lavender et al, 2010; Luce et al, 2008).…”