Self-presentational motives in eating disordered behavior: a known groups difference approach.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the role of self-presentation motivation across three groups with known differences in disordered eating behavior.


METHODS
Female participants (N=131) were currently in-treatment for an eating disorder (n=39), deemed at-risk (n=46), or not-at-risk for an eating disorder (n=46). All participants completed general and physique-specific measures of self-presentation motivation.


RESULTS
Results revealed significant moderate differences between groups. Those not-at-risk reported lower levels of self-presentation motivation across all measures compared to those in the other groups. Those at-risk reported significantly lower scores across global measures of self-presentation motivation, but not physique-specific motives, than those in-treatment. A discriminant function analysis demonstrated that self-presentation motivation correctly classified 63.4% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that self-presentation motives may be particularly salient for individuals at-risk or in-treatment for eating disordered behavior.
Mack
Diane E
DE
Department of PEKN, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada L2S 3A1. dmack@brocku.ca
Strong
Heather A
HA
Kowalski
Kent C
KC
Crocker
Peter R E
PR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004328:Drive; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D009042:Motivation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012925:Social Conformity; D012928:Social Desirability; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology