A pilot investigation of the relation of perceived mutuality to eating disorders in women.
Relational theory predicts that lack of mutuality in important relationships leads to the development of psychological problems, including eating disorders. We sought to explore the association between perceived mutuality in relationships with partners and friends and eating disorders. Participants were 74 women, 35 with an eating disorder diagnosis and 39 non-psychiatric controls. The eating disorder group reported lower perceived mutuality than controls for both partners and friends. The negative aspects of perceived mutuality were particularly important in differentiating between groups. These findings held when depression was included as a covariate for friends only. Results suggest that the disconnecting aspects of relationships may play a powerful role in the phenomenology of eating disorders.
Department of Psychology, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA 16057, USA. jennifer.sanftner@sru.edu
Jennifer L
JL
Sanftner
Mary
M
Tantillo
C S Larry
CS
Seidlitz
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011582:Psychological Theory; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D016387:Women's Health