title: Dissatisfaction versus over-evaluation in a general population sample of women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared levels of eating disorder psychopathology, general psychological distress and impairment in role functioning among subgroups of women, recruited from a large, general population sample, who reported dissatisfaction with weight or shape but not over-evaluation of weight or shape (n = 482) or over-evaluation but not dissatisfaction (n = 105).
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report questionnaires that included measures of each outcome, as well as height and weight and socio-demographic information, were completed by all participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants who reported dissatisfaction but not over-evaluation were older, heavier and had higher levels of weight or shape concerns, higher levels of general psychological distress, and poorer physical health than those who reported over-evaluation but not dissatisfaction. However, only differences with respect to weight or shape concerns remained significant after age and BMI were statistically controlled. In multivariable analysis, dissatisfaction with weight or shape made a stronger contribution to variance in all three outcomes-eating disorder psychopathology, general psychological distress and functional impairment-than over-evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the findings are consistent with the view that over-evaluation and dissatisfaction are distinct constructs, there was no evidence to support the premise that overevaluation is more "pathological" than dissatisfaction among women in the general population.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. j.mond@uws.edu.au
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mond
authors.forename: Phillipa J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires