title: Prospective analysis of personality and behavioral vulnerabilities and gender influences in the later development of disordered eating.
abstract: This article presents the 2-year findings of a prospective investigation of the precursors to the later development of an eating disorder in adolescents. The sample consisted of 852 girls and 815 boys who began to study in Grades 7-10 and participated for 3 consecutive years. For both genders, the strongest predictors of Year 3 risk status were Years 1 and 2 risk scores. When the effects of Year 1 and Year 2 risk were controlled, race (Caucasian) and poor interoceptive awareness at Year 2 were significant predictors of disordered eating at Year 3 for girls. Previous risk status was the only significant predictor of Year 3 risk for boys. Gender difference evaluations in the risk score components indicated that a significantly greater proportion of girls than boys endorsed behaviors that were similar to eating disorder diagnostic criteria. Poor interoceptive awareness may provide a vulnerability for eating disorders; possible pathways were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fulkerson
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Early-Zald
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors