title: A multidimensional measure of core beliefs relevant to eating disorders: preliminary development and validation.
abstract: Core beliefs associated with eating disorders are likely to be multidimensional, and may not be adequately captured by existing measures. The current study aimed to develop such a measure and examine its relationship to eating disorder symptoms, anxiety, depression and putative diagnoses of their related disorders. Core belief items were rated by 500 female participants aged 18-65, who also completed self-report measures of eating disorder symptomatology, depression, anxiety, and self esteem. Factor analysis revealed five subscales, with themes related to (a) self loathing, (b) unassertive/inhibited, (c) high standards for self, (d) demanding and needing help and support and (e) abandoned/deprived. Thirty two items were selected for a final scale, the Eating Disorder Core Beliefs Questionnaire (ED-CBQ). The ED-CBQ subscales showed adequate internal consistency and construct (convergent and discriminant) validity. Self loathing appeared to be particularly associated with putative eating disorder diagnosis, while abandoned/deprived was more characteristic of putative anxiety and depression diagnoses. The findings suggest that negative core self beliefs relevant to those with an eating disorder are a multidimensional construct and that self loathing as a core belief merits further research and clinical attention.
authors.affiliation: Isis Education Centre, Oxford University, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fairchild
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003469:Culture; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires