Personality and dimensions of dietary restraint.
OBJECTIVE
Given that dietary restraint and associated dietary behavior may predispose individuals to frank eating disorders, and that differences in personality profiles have been observed across subtypes of eating disorders, we sought to address whether aspects of restrained eating (cognitive restraint, disinhibition, and susceptibility to hunger) could be distinguished using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).


METHODS
One hundred and one women aged 18-45 selected at random from the community completed the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS), the TCI, and the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ).


RESULTS
Novelty seeking (NS) was significantly positively correlated with disinhibition. Self-directedness (SD) was negatively correlated with the total TFEQ score, disinhibition, and susceptibility to hunger. Self-transcendence (ST) correlated positively with total TFEQ score and cognitive restraint.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that individuals with character traits denoting low SD and high ST may be particularly reactive and susceptible to societal messages pertaining to the ideology of slenderness.
Gendall
K A
KA
University of Otago, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand.
Joyce
P R
PR
Sullivan
P F
PF
Bulik
C M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept