Low meaning in life is associated with eating disorder psychopathology in a Spanish sample with eating disorders.

Participants with eating disorders (EDs) experience identity problems, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. Research has confirmed the link between the experience of low meaning in life (MIL) and psychopathology. However, there is a lack of research focusing on MIL in ED. Objectives The objectives of this study are as follows: (a) to analyze whether MIL at baseline moderates the association between ED psychopathology at baseline and borderline symptoms, hopelessness, and suicide ideation at follow‐up and (b) to analyze whether MIL moderates the association between suicide ideation, hopelessness, and borderline symptoms at baseline and at the 7‐month follow‐up. Method The sample was composed of 300 participants with ED at baseline and 122 at the 7‐month follow‐up. The participants filled out the Purpose in Life, Eating Attitude Test, Borderline Symptoms List, Hopelessness Scale, and Suicide Ideation Scale. Results (a) MIL at baseline moderated the association between ED psychopathology at baseline and borderline symptoms, hopelessness, and suicide ideation at the follow‐up; (b) MIL moderated the association between suicide ideation, hopelessness, and borderline symptoms at baseline and at the 7‐month follow‐up. Conclusion MIL could be a relevant variable in the ED psychopathology.

The Body Investment Scale (BIS) assesses body image feelings, body care, protection of the body, and comfort in touch, in order to identify and distinguish participants with self-harming and self-destructive tendencies. However, the psychometric properties of the BIS were not analysed in participants diagnosed with eating disorders. The main objective of the present study is to confirm the factor structure of the Spanish version of the BIS and analyse its psychometric properties in a sample composed of women diagnosed with eating disorders. Participants were 250 Spanish women between 12 and 60 years old (M = 26.05, SD = 11.97) diagnosed with eating disorders. A confirmatory factor analysis showed a poor fit of the original BIS. The final model showed an acceptable 4-factor structure (Body Feelings, α = .88; Body Touch, α = .82; Body Protection, α = .77; Body Care, α = .68), with a good fit to the data (SBχ = 393.21, CFI = .906, IFI = .908, RMSEA = .049). The relationships between the BIS and both the Purpose-In-Life Test-10 Items and Beck Hopelessness Scale were analysed, as well as differences in the BIS score according to nonsuicidal self-injuries and suicidal ideation in the past year. The BIS is an appropriate instrument to assess the body investment dimension of body image in women with eating disorders.

Objectives The main aim of the present study was to confirm the two‐factor structure of the Inventory of Statements About Self‐injury‐ Part II (ISAS‐II), analyze its psychometric properties and test–retest reliability of Parts I and II of the ISAS. Method The sample was composed of 355 Spanish participants diagnosed with eating disorders or borderline personality disorder (mean age 27.89, standard deviation = 13.31; 315 women, 40 men). Two models proposed for the ISAS‐II were analyzed by means of confirmatory factorial analysis. Results A two‐factor model was confirmed, and a model with self‐care included in the intrapersonal factor was preferable. The ISAS‐II showed positive correlations with emotional dysregulation. Test–retest reliability showed statistically significant correlations at 7 months (n = 123). Conclusion The ISAS‐II is a valid instrument to assess nonsuicidal self‐injury in Spanish populations, making it possible to assess these behaviors, which require valid and reliable measures worldwide.