One size does not fit all: Exploring how the five‐factor model facets predict disordered eating behaviours among adolescent and young adult males and females

Abstract

There is a wealth of research that has highlighted the relationship between personality and eating disorders. It has been suggested that understanding how subclinical disordered eating behaviours are uniquely associated with personality can help to improve the conceptualization of individuals with eating disorders. This study aimed to explore how the facets of the Five‐Factor Model (FFM) predicted restrictive eating, binge eating, purging, chewing and spitting, excessive exercising and muscle building among males and females. An online survey assessing disordered eating behaviours, FFM and general psychopathology was completed by 394 females and 167 males aged between 16 and 30 years. Simultaneous equations path models were systematically generated for each disordered eating behaviour to identify how the FFM facets, body dissatisfaction and age predicted behaviour. The results indicated that each of the six disordered behaviours were predicted by a unique pattern of thinking, feeling and behaving. Considerable differences between males and females were found for each path model, suggesting differences between males and females in the personality traits that drive disordered eating behaviours. It was concluded that it is important to take personality into account when treating males and females who engage in disordered eating behaviours.

Identifying overcontrol and undercontrol personality types among young people using the five factor model, and the relationship with disordered eating behaviour, anxiety and depression

“…Out of a prospective 1,492 individuals, 572 individuals completed all measures of the study. A flowchart of participation and study drop-out has previously been published [ 50 ]. Prospective participants accessed information about the study from an online advertisement.…”

“…The sample was mainly Caucasian/White (70%) and/or had a Year 12 (final year of high school) or equivalent education (45%). Our sample has been described in more detail in our previous work [ 50 ] and sufficient statistical power has been found to be adequate in relatively small samples for cluster analysis [ 51 ].…”

“…Data from this study have previously been described elsewhere [ 50 , 69 ]. In order to attract prospective participants, advertisements providing a brief overview of the goals of the study and anticipated time commitment were posted on social media.…”

“…Thirdly, although most clinical samples only consist of girls or women participants [ 16 , 25 – 27 ], and girls/women have been found to be more likely to develop an ED compared to boys/men [ 18 , 47 ], disordered eating has been increasing at faster rate among men compared to women [ 48 , 49 ]. In the limited research on EDs or disordered eating among men, gender differences have been found between personality and disordered eating [ 43 , 50 ]. Therefore, it was considered important within the design of our study to include men, and to control for gender in our analyses.…”

Strengths and weaknesses of the German translation of the Inflexible Eating Questionnaire and of eating disorder assessment in general

“…“Cheat” or binge episodes are followed by compensatory measures, for instance, excessive exercise and a more rigid adherence to their nutritional plan (i.e., Dietary Restraint; Connan, 1998 ). Hence, both sexes appear to be equally impaired by binge eating (Striegel et al, 2012 ; Gilmartin et al, 2022 ). Regarding compensatory behaviors, males appear more likely to display non-purging behaviors, like extreme dietary restriction and excessive exercise (Lavender et al, 2010 ) while females appear more likely to display “typical” purging behavior, like laxative use (Striegel-Moore et al, 2009 ).…”