Personality and Affectivity Characteristics Associated With Eating Disorders: A Comparison of Eating Disordered, Weight-Preoccupied, and Normal Samples

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the relative contribution of personality and emotional experience to self-reported eating attitudes in a group of patients with clinically diagnosed eating disorders, a weight-reduction training group (Weight Watchers), and a control group without body weight problems. Participants in this study (N = 114) completed Estonian versions of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2; Garner, 1991), NEO Personality Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1989), and Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule, Expanded Form (Watson & Clark, 1994). Data demonstrated validity of the Estonian version of EDI-2 in its ability to identify problems on a continuum of disordered eating behavior. Among the Big Five personality dimensions, Neuroticism made the largest contribution to EDI-2 subscales. Two other dimensions, Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness, also predispose individuals to eating problems. Personality traits made a larger contribution to the self-reported eating pathology than the self-rated effects experienced during the last few weeks. It was argued that personality dispositions have a larger relevancy in the etiology of eating disorders than emotional state.

Autoantibodies against neuropeptides are associated with psychological traits in eating disorders

“…Each item responded to a 6-point scale, ranging from 0 (never) to 5 (always), which was recorded to a 4-point scale from 0 to 3 (original 0,1, and 2 are all reduced to 0; whereas 3,4, and 5 correspond to 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The validity of the Estonian version of the EDI-2 test was previously confirmed (21). To test our hypothesis that the plasma levels of autoAbs against ␣-MSH, ACTH, OT, and͞or VP correlate with the degree of psychological problems in AN and BN patients, we compared correlations between the plasma levels of each Abs and the EDI-2 total as well as each EDI-2 subscale score among the controls, AN, and BN patients.…”

A cross‐cultural comparison of the eating disorder inventory

“…It is well documented that sufferers of anorexia and bulimia have, compared with normal individuals, a significantly elevated level of neuroticism. 105,106,[131][132][133] The correlation between EDI subscales and neuroticism is generally so strong that it is possible to consider eating disorder symptoms an aspect of neurotic personality dispositions. 105 In culture-level analysis, several non-Western cultures such as the Japanese, Koreans, and the Chinese score very high on the dimension related to neuroticism, while many prominent Western cultures such as Americans, the Dutch, and Swedes score low on neuroticism.…”

Effects of negative mood induction and impulsivity on self‐perceived emotional eating

“…Various authors distinguished people suffering from bulimia from those suffering from anorexia nervosa in terms of impulse control. From their perception, impluse control would be lacking in bulimics (suffering from uncontrollable binges), but present in the latter group (e.g., Brewerton et al, 1995;Fahy & Eisler, 1993;Podar, Hannus, & Allik, 1999). Welch and Fairburn (1996) even described a multi-impulsive type of bulimia or a multi-impulsive personality disorder referring to bulimia together with alcohol abuse, medicine abuse, and/or self-injury.…”