Modeling eating pathology: The role of gender, sociocultural, and individual factors

<p>Eating pathology is an increasing problem in the United States and other Western countries. This study examined gender differences and specific known psychological correlates of eating pathology. Sociocultural variables, such as thin-ideal internalization, and individual factors, such as perfectionism and experiential avoidance, were also evaluated. A sample of 257 female and 165 male undergraduates (<em>n</em> = 423) completed a battery of surveys online. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to model the relationships among the variables. The results show that the best fitting model included perfectionism rather than thin-ideal internalization leading to body dissatisfaction. There is support for experiential avoidance as a mediating variable between body dissatisfaction, dieting, and thin-idealization and binge eating. Results also show that men engaged in more binge eating and exercise than women and less vomiting and laxative use than women. These findings suggest that individual factors, specifically perfectionism and experiential avoidance, are strongly related to eating pathology, particularly binge eating.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• King, Lindsay T

Contributors dc:contributor

• Michelle R. Byrd, Ph.D.
• Renee R. Lajiness-O’Neill, Ph.D.
• Martha W. Tack, Ph.D.

• Eating disorders Etiology
• Eating disorders Sex factors
• Eating disorders Psychological aspects
• Body image
• Clinical Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/128

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1127