Comparison of eating disorders and other dietary/weight groups on measures of perceived control, assertiveness, self-esteem, and self-directed hostility

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 27 - 32
• Main Authors: Williams, G.J, Power, K.G, Millar, H.R, Freeman, C.P, Yellowlees, A, Dowds, T, Walker, M, Campsie, L, MacPherson, F, Jackson, M.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.1993; Wiley
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; ADULTE; ADULTOS; Age Factors; Anorexia Nervosa - psychology; APETITO; APPETIT; Assertiveness; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight; Bulimia - psychology; COMPORTAMIENTO HUMANO; COMPORTEMENT HUMAIN; DIETA; Eating behavior disorders; FACTEUR PSYCHOLOGIQUE; FACTORES PSICOLOGICOS; Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Obesity - psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; Self Concept; SOBREPESO; Social Class; SURPOIDS; TRASTORNOS DIGESTIVOS; TROUBLE DIGESTIF; Human; Obesity; Self assertiveness; Self depreciation; Nutrition disorder; Personality; Nervous anorexia; Bulimia; Self control; Self esteem; Guilt; Alimentary behavior disturbance; Nutritional status; Comparative study; Low calorie diet
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/1098-108X(199307)14:1<27::AID-EAT2260140104>3.0.CO;2-F

Anorexic and bulimic patients were compared to obese dieters, nonobese dieters, and normal controls on measures of perceived control, assertiveness, self-esteem, self-directed hostility, and psychiatric caseness. The anorexic and bulimic groups both scored significantly differently in the expected direction from the other three groups on all measures. There were no significant differences between the anorexic and bulimic groups and in turn, no significant differences among the obese, nonobese dieters, and normal controls. Results are in keeping with the notion that perceived control, low assertiveness, low self-esteem, and self-directed hostility are characteristics of eating disorder patients that differentiate them from individuals who display dietary/weight features, as well as from normal controls