Abstract
Introduction: Eating disorder symptomatology, comprising both psychological and behavioral aspects of subclinical eating concerns, constitutes a clear precursor of developing eating disorders. It is crucial to investigate its antecedents and correlates to subsequently inform eating disorder prevention programs. The present study focused on identity formation, a core developmental task in adolescence, that has increasingly been linked to eating disorder development. Our main aim was to examine the temporal sequence between eating disorder symptomatology and identity formation.Methods: Data on eating disorder symptomatology and identity formation were collected in 530 high school students (at Time 1: mean age = 15 years; SD = 1.84; range: 12–18 years; 50.6% females) using self-report questionnaires at three annual measurement points. Cross-lagged structural equation modeling was performed to examine the directionality of effects.Results: Results indicated bidirectional effects between eating disorder symptomatology and identity formation. Identity confusion seemed to increase vulnerability to body dissatisfaction and bulimia symptoms, whereas identity synthesis seemed to protect against their development. Additionally, identity synthesis seemed to protect against the development of drive for thinness as well. At the same time, body dissatisfaction and bulimia symptoms positively predicted identity confusion and negatively predicted identity synthesis over time.Conclusion: The present study adds to the growing body of literature on identity and eating disorders by focusing on their temporal interplay in a community sample of adolescents. As bidirectional effects emerged, a greater emphasis on identity formation in eating disorder prevention programs is advocated.
Highlights
Eating disorder symptomatology, comprising both psychological and behavioral aspects of subclinical eating concerns, constitutes a clear precursor of developing eating disorders
The present study focuses on both psychological and behavioral eating disorders (ED) symptoms, which have been described as central features of a clinical ED (Garner, 2004; Nyman-Carlsson et al, 2015)
Mean levels of EDI subscales were similar to findings from previous studies focusing on ED symptomatology in a community sample and were substantially lower than in studies focusing on clinical (ED) samples (Lehmann et al, 2013; Nyman-Carlsson et al, 2015)1
Summary
Eating disorder symptomatology, comprising both psychological and behavioral aspects of subclinical eating concerns, constitutes a clear precursor of developing eating disorders. Research has demonstrated that approximately 85% of boys and girls are unhappy with some aspects of their body (Ricciardelli and McCabe, 2001), and an alarming number of adolescents (50–60%) and emerging adults (approximately 25%) admit to experiment with disturbed eating behaviors (e.g., fasting, taking diet pills or laxatives, vomiting, bingeeating; Croll et al, 2002; Quick and Byrd-Bredbenner, 2013) These maladaptive eating behaviors are associated with several indicators of psychological ill-being such as depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, and stress (Fryer et al, 1997; Franko and Omori, 1999; Liechty and Lee, 2013) and are considered major risk factors for the development of eating disorders (ED; Stice, 2002; Neumark-Sztainer et al, 2006). The present longitudinal study aimed to substantially extend this research line by examining the directionality of effects linking identity and ED symptomatology over time
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