Does body shame mediate the relationship between parental bonding, self-esteem, maladaptive perfectionism, body mass index and eating disorders? A structural equation model.

PURPOSE: Body shame has been strongly associated with eating pathology. However, less is known about the predisposing factors linked to these feelings and how they interact with other variables in eating disorder development. Thus, the aim of the present study was to provide a preliminary understanding of the relationship between body shame and some of the major risk factors for eating disorder onset, identifying the possible mechanisms of action. Specifically, we tested a structural equation model in which perceived parental bonding, self-esteem, perfectionism, and body mass index are associated with eating disorder risk via body shame. METHODS: 1156 high school students aged 13-20 were screened by means of self-report measures of parental behavior, self-esteem, perfectionism, body shame and eating disorder risk. The height and weight of each individual were measured. RESULTS: In predicting eating disorder risk, parental protectiveness (ß = 0.09), body mass index (ß = 0.18), self-esteem (ß = - 0.14) and body shame (ß = 0.58) had a direct effect on this variable and overall our model accounted for 58% of its variance. The experience of shame related to one's body appeared to have a considerably significant influence on eating disturbances vulnerability and it also serves as a mediator between other risk factors and eating disturbance risk. A series of multi-group analyses indicated no significant difference between males and females. CONCLUSION: The emotion of shame may enhance our understanding of eating disorders, as well as being a salient factor for the development of preventive programs and treatment approaches. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Identifying Predictors Associated with the Severity of Eating Concerns in Females with Eating Disorders.

Considering how to improve efficacy of therapeutic strategies, the overall objective of the present study was to investigate the extent of eating concerns and to identify predictors associated with the severity of disordered eating symptomatology among people with eating pathologies. We screened 80 female eating disordered patients, ranging from 13 to 40 years, by means of self-report measures of parental behavior as perceived by the offspring, self-esteem, perfectionism, body shame and eating disorder severity. Self-reported weight and height were obtained. The diagnosis of bulimia nervosa resulted to be associated with a greater severity of the eating symptomatology. Maladaptive perfectionism, body shame and self-esteem, significantly predicted the level of eating concerns. The recognition of potential maintaining factors may support the choice of particular therapeutic strategies to improve the treatment of eating pathologies and their outcomes.

Self-esteem, body shame and eating disorder risk in obese and normal weight adolescents: A mediation model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate dysfunctional eating behaviors and psychological variables typically associated to eating disturbances such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, shame, perceived parental care and protectiveness in obese and normal weight adolescents and to examine how the main powerful eating disorder risk factors interact with each other which explains eating psychopathology vulnerability. METHOD: 111 high school students (68 males; age range 13-19years) classified as obese and 111 age-, sex- and social status-homogeneous normal weight controls were included in the current study. All participants were asked to fill out self-report measures of parental behavior as perceived by the offspring, eating disturbance attitudes and behaviors, self-esteem, perfectionism and shame. RESULTS: Significant differences between the two groups in relation to dysfunctional eating behaviors emerged. Body shame had the strongest relationship to eating problems vulnerability and acted as a mediator in the relationship between low self-esteem and eating disorder risk among both obese and non-obese youngsters. CONCLUSIONS: These findings further our understanding of a potential underlying mechanism for eating pathology development in youngsters in general and in obese adolescents in particular, which is of great importance in terms of prevention and treatment.

How perceived parental bonding affects self-concept and drive for thinness: a community-based study.

The main aims of the present study were to investigate the relationship between perceived parental bonding and self-concept and to investigate whether these variables have an effect on eating disturbances vulnerability by testing a mediation model. We screened 3158 Italian high school students (1132 males and 2026 females), ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old by means of self-report measures of parental behavior as perceived by the offspring, eating disturbance propensity and self-concept. Weight and height were also measured. The link between a parental bonding behavior characterized by low paternal care and by maternal overprotection and a dysfunctional eating attitude (expressed by the drive for thinness) was significant and was found to be perfectly mediated by adolescents' self-concept. Moreover, our results showed that the impact of self-concept for the drive for thinness (and hence on eating psychopathologies) is moderated by the participants' body mass index and gender, but not by age. We consider this evidence of study to be useful for the prevention and treatment of eating related problems in adolescence.

Influence of gender role orientation (masculinity versus femininity) on body satisfaction and eating attitudes in homosexuals, heterosexuals and transsexuals.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gender role orientation and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors and body dissatisfaction in a sample of homosexuals, heterosexuals, and transsexuals. METHOD: We screened 132 homosexuals, 178 heterosexuals (both male and female), and 15 MtF transsexuals by means of an ad hoc socio-demographic schedule; the Eating Disorders Inventory-2 and Symptom Checklist; the Body Uneasiness Test and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. RESULTS: Differences between homosexual, heterosexual, and transsexual participants emerged, but those data seem to be best explained by the constructs of femininity and masculinity than by the biological gender. DISCUSSION: The empirical evidence of a positive correlation between femininity and eating problems, and the negative correlation between masculinity and eating problems, is full of implications. Eating disorders appear to be diseases of femininity; masculinity seems to be a protective factor, independently by the biological gender.

My body and me: self-injurious behaviors and body modifications in eating disorders--preliminary results.

We investigated self-injurious behaviors and body modification practices in eating disorder patients, considering different ED diagnoses and illness severities. Of the total sample, 50.9% showed at least one form of self-injury and 50.9% reported at least one tattoo, piercing, or both. Patients reporting only body modifications showed more positive feelings toward their bodies, higher levels of self-esteem, less impulsivity, depression, and anxiety, and lower levels of social dysfunction than those reporting only self-injury or both self-injury and body modifications. Self-injury was influenced by both diagnosis and severity of disorders.