The relationship between self‐discrepancies, eating disorder and depressive symptoms in women

Sawdon, Ann Marie; Cooper, Myra; Seabrook, Rachel

doi:10.1002/erv.739

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…This is not surprising, as anorexic patients have been described, since the first clinical reports in this field, as individuals who try to achieve perfection in every area of their lives (Bruch 1978). In a similar vein, Sawdon et al (2007) found that the discrepancy between actual self and potential self distinguished eating disordered patients from those who were primarily depressed. It could, therefore, be stated that self-perceptions contributing to depression are based on who you are, whereas self-perceptions associated with eating disorders are focused on who you may become.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Gender-related Risk and Protective Factors for Depressive Symptoms and Disordered Eating in Adolescence: A 4-year Longitudinal Study

Ferreiro

Pesqueira

Senra

2011

J Youth Adolescence

120

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The interplay between intrapersonal risk (low self-esteem, perfectionism and body dissatisfaction) and interpersonal protection (social support) appears relevant for delineating gender-specific pathways that lead to both depressive and eating psychopathology. The aims of this longitudinal study were to examine gender differences in the levels of depressive symptoms, disordered eating and the co-occurrence of both problems from preadolescence to mid-adolescence and to identify gender-specific risk and protective factors of depressive symptoms and disordered eating. A Spanish community-based sample initially comprising 942 early adolescents (49% females) was assessed at baseline (T1; X (age) = 10.8 years) and at 2 and 4-year follow-up (T2 and T3). Gender differences emerged at T2 for disordered eating and at T3 for depressive symptoms and for co-occurring depressive symptoms and disordered eating. Predictors of depressive symptoms were body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and fear of getting fat, for girls, and body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, for boys. Predictors of disordered eating were body dissatisfaction, depressive symptoms, BMI and perfectionism, for girls, and low social support and BMI, for boys. In addition, for boys only, social support moderated the effect of body dissatisfaction on depressive symptoms and the effect of depressive symptoms on disordered eating. The hypotheses of the study were partially supported. Clinical implications are derived regarding the components that should be included in programs for preventing depression and eating disorders in both girls and boys.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Gender-related Risk and Protective Factors for Depressive Symptoms and Disordered Eating in Adolescence: A 4-year Longitudinal Study

Ferreiro

Pesqueira

Senra

2011

J Youth Adolescence

120

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“…This longitudinal study provided novel evidence for the association between cognitive factors, taking into account automatic thoughts about eating [ 1 ], weight discrepancies [ 10 – 13 ], and ED symptoms within a non-clinical sample of adolescents. In line with the cognitive ED models [ 1 , 6 ] and in line with the self-discrepancy theory [ 10 ], it was assumed that these factors would play an important role in the process of formation and maintenance of ED symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, individuals tend to reduce arising discrepancies. Self-discrepancy theory can be adopted to explaining effects of body weight and shape evaluations on ED symptoms formation [ 10 – 13 ]. As far as ED are concerned, the most striking discrepancies may occur between the actual-self and ideal-self (in bulimia), and the actual-self and ought-self (in anorexia) [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Self-discrepancy theory can be adopted to explaining effects of body weight and shape evaluations on ED symptoms formation [ 10 – 13 ]. As far as ED are concerned, the most striking discrepancies may occur between the actual-self and ideal-self (in bulimia), and the actual-self and ought-self (in anorexia) [ 13 ]. Since individuals with both anorexia and bulimia symptoms recognize their body weight as the central part of their self [ 14 ], it is assumed that the biggest discrepancies appear among their actual, ideal and ought weight.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The association between automatic thoughts about eating, the actual–ideal weight discrepancies, and eating disorders symptoms: a longitudinal study in late adolescence

2014

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ObjectiveThis study tested the reciprocal relationships between automatic thoughts about eating and the actual–ideal weight discrepancies, and their role in the formation and maintenance of eating disorders (ED) symptoms in a non-clinical sample of adolescents. In particular, we investigated whether thoughts about eating mediated the effects of weight discrepancies on ED formation and whether weight discrepancies mediated the effects of thoughts about eating on ED formation were investigated.MethodData were collected three times, with a 2-month interval between Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2), and a 9-month interval between T2 and Time 3 (T3). Adolescents (N = 55) aged 15–18 filled out the SCOFF Questionnaire, assessing eating disorders symptoms, and the Eating Disorder Thoughts Questionnaire, evaluating automatic thoughts. To assess weight discrepancies questions about actual (subjectively reported) and ideal body weight were asked followed by objective measurement of height and weight.ResultsNegative thoughts about eating (T2) mediated the relation between weight discrepancies (T1) and symptoms of anorexia and bulimia (T3). In addition, the association between negative thoughts (T1) and eating disorders symptoms (T3) was mediated by weight discrepancies (T2).ConclusionThe negative thoughts and the actual (both subjectively reported and objectively measured)–ideal weight discrepancies constitute a vicious cycle, related to higher ED symptoms. Prevention of eating disorders should be directed to adolescents who manifest large weight discrepancies or high levels of negative thoughts about eating, as they are at risk for developing eating disorder symptoms.

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“…Further, Wonderlich et al () found that both A:I and A:O discrepancies were elevated in those with BN versus controls. However, Sawdon, Cooper, and Seabrook () found no significant correlations between ED symptoms (measured using the Eating Attitudes Test) and A:I or A:O among a community sample of 100 women.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Self‐Discrepancy and Eating Disorder Symptoms Across Eating Disorder Diagnostic Groups

Mason

Lavender

Wonderlich

et al. 2016

Euro Eating Disorders Rev

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This study examined self-discrepancy, a construct of theoretical relevance to eating disorder (ED) psychopathology, across different types of EDs. Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN; n = 112), bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 72), and binge eating disorder (BED; n = 199) completed semi-structured interviews assessing specific types of self-discrepancies. Results revealed that actual:ideal (A:I) discrepancy was positively associated with AN, actual:ought (A:O) discrepancy was positively associated with BN and BED, and self-discrepancies did not differentiate BN from BED. Across diagnoses, A:O discrepancy was positively associated with severity of purging, binge eating, and global ED psychopathology. Further, there were significant interactions between diagnosis and A:O discrepancy for global ED psychopathology and between diagnosis and A:I discrepancy for binge eating and driven exercise. These results support the importance of self-discrepancy as a potential causal and maintenance variable in EDs that differentiates among different types of EDs and symptom severity.

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The relationship between self‐discrepancies, eating disorder and depressive symptoms in women

Abstract: At least one generic self-discrepancy is related specifically to eating disorder rather than depressive symptoms. Implications of the findings for theory and clinical practice are briefly discussed.

Cited by 11 publications

References 15 publications

Gender-related Risk and Protective Factors for Depressive Symptoms and Disordered Eating in Adolescence: A 4-year Longitudinal Study

Gender-related Risk and Protective Factors for Depressive Symptoms and Disordered Eating in Adolescence: A 4-year Longitudinal Study

The association between automatic thoughts about eating, the actual–ideal weight discrepancies, and eating disorders symptoms: a longitudinal study in late adolescence

Self‐Discrepancy and Eating Disorder Symptoms Across Eating Disorder Diagnostic Groups

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