Assumptions and beliefs, dieting, and predictors of eating disorder-related symptoms in young women and young men.
Differences between assumptions and beliefs related to eating disorders were investigated in young women and young men, with and without a history of dieting. The unique predictive power of these assumptions and beliefs was also assessed, compared to generic assumptions and beliefs. Both women and men with a history of dieting scored more highly than those who had never dieted on assumptions related to weight, shape, and eating, but did not differ from this group in negative self-beliefs. Assumptions and beliefs related to eating disorders, as well as female gender, but not body mass index (BMI), history of dieting, or generic assumptions and beliefs, predicted eating disorder-related symptoms. The findings add to knowledge about the relationship between assumptions and beliefs, gender, dieting, and eating disorder-related symptoms. They also support the usefulness of the Eating Disorder Belief Questionnaire (EDBQ), a new measure of eating disorder-specific assumptions and beliefs.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Mark
M
O'Connor
Tamara
T
Simmons
Myra
M
Cooper