Abstract
BackgroundPast research has established individual relationships between disordered eating behaviours (DEB) and both self-regulation difficulties and identity disturbance. However, no research has looked at the shared influence of these constructs on DEB nor at personality functioning in individuals with DEB.MethodsIn the present study, self-regulation was explored in terms of effortful control, impulsivity and emotion regulation while identity integration was measured in terms of impairments in self-functioning using a sample of 247 undergraduate students.ResultsSignificant associations were found between all components of self-regulation and DEB, with the exception of impulsivity. Identity instability was also associated with self-regulation difficulties and DEB. Structural Equation Modelling analyses indicated that identity instability partially mediated the relationship between self-regulation and DEB. Lastly, disordered eating was associated with difficulties in personality functioning, with young women presenting with DEB reporting significantly greater difficulties in both self and interpersonal personality functioning.ConclusionBehavioural eating anomalies should be considered as epiphenomena secondary to a possible deeper issue that reflects difficulties related to identity integration and potential personality functioning. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Highlights
ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare different contributing factors, previously suggested to play a role in disordered eating behaviors, such as emotion regulation, impulsivity, and identity disturbance
Past research has established individual relationships between disordered eating behaviours (DEB) and both self-regulation difficulties and identity disturbance
Part of the impact of poor emotion regulation was explained by identity disturbance, which suggests that the latter plays a more central role in the development of disordered eating behaviours
Summary
This study aimed to compare different contributing factors, previously suggested to play a role in disordered eating behaviors, such as emotion regulation, impulsivity, and identity disturbance. This study aimed to investigate the role of identity instability as a mediator of the relationship between effortful control, impulsivity, emotion regulation and DEB
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