Orthorexia nervosa: real construct or newest social trend?

Despite a plethora of anecdotal evidence, there are very few empirical studies on orthorexia nervosa, which has been described as an obsession with proper nutrition and the consumption of healthy food. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to begin to explore the epidemiological contours of orthorexia nervosa in an American college student sample and the validity of orthorexia nervosa as a psychological construct. Specifically, this study evaluated the potential overlap between orthorexia nervosa and existing DSM disorders to which it has been compared in the emerging literature. Data included self-reported responses to paper and pencil questionnaires from 163 study participants. The results of this study did not confirm risk factors identified by the few previous ON studies. In addition, the findings from this study indicated that ON shares important characteristics with established eating disorders. However, more research is needed to determine if ON is a distinct construct, involves constructs not assessed in this study, or simply a societal trend.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology (UMKC)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• McInerney-Ernst, Erin Michelle

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Terre, Lisa

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10355/11200

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/11200