Bulimic and Depressive Symptoms: Self-Discrepancies and Acceptance

Abstract

We tested 342 female undergraduate students to test predictions derived from self-discrepancy theory with the goal of distinguishing self-perceptions associated with commonly comorbid bulimic and depressive symptoms. Consistent with our predictions and previous research, symptoms of eating pathology no longer remained correlated significantly when we statistically controlled for generic actual-ideal self-discrepancy scores associated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the correlation between bulimic symptoms and specific self-discrepancies (i.e., physical attractiveness, perfectionism, self-control, acceptance by others, self-acceptance, and social competence) was larger than correlations related to generic self-discrepancies. Two self-discrepancies—self-control and physical attractiveness — accounted for the most variance in bulimic symptoms above and beyond depression. Scores on an acceptance scale were negatively correlated with scores on measures of bulimic symptoms, depression, anxiety, and social desirability, as well as with self-discrepancies related to openness to new experiences, acceptance by self, and acceptance by others ( p < .01). Our results highlight the value of self-discrepancy theory in distinguishing individuals with depressive and eating disordered symptoms. Treatment and theoretical implications are discussed.