Perceived acceptability of anorexia and bulimia in women with and without eating disorder symptoms

Abstract

Perceptions of the acceptability of eating-disordered behaviour were examined in young adult women with (n = 44) and without (n = 268) eating disorder symptoms. All participants viewed vignettes of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and responded to the same series of questions-addressing different possible ways in which the conditions described might be seen to be acceptable-in relation to each vignette. Participants with eating disorder symptoms perceived eating-disordered behaviour to be more acceptable than asymptomatic participants, and this was the case for both AN and BN vignettes and for a range of different items. Differences on items tapping the perception that it 'might not be too bad' to have an eating disorder and that an eating disorder is 'nothing to be concerned about' were particularly pronounced. The findings could not be accounted for by between-group differences in body weight. The findings indicate the ambivalence towards eating-disordered behaviour that exists among a subgroup of young women in the community and the clear association between such ambivalence and actual eating disorder symptoms. The perceived acceptability of eating-disordered behaviour may need to be addressed in prevention and early-intervention programs for eating disorders.

Self-Recognition of Eating-Disordered Behavior in College Women: Further Evidence of Poor Eating Disorders “Mental Health Literacy”?

“…Given the methods of recruitment employed, it was not possible to determine response rates and no information was available concerning the characteristics of nonrespondents. However, comparison of participants' scores on the eating disorder symptom measure with those of normative data suggested that levels of eating disorder psychopathology in the present study sample were somewhat higher than those of young women in the general population, as would be expected (Luce et al, 2008;Mond & Arrighi, 2012;Mond, Hay, Rodgers, & Owen, 2006c).…”

“…Third, probable eating disorder cases were identified on the basis of self-report assessment. Although interview assessment would have been preferable, participants identified as probable eating disorder cases in the present study had very high levels of eating disorder and comorbid psychopathology and the criteria employed in identifying these participants have been validated in several previous, community-based studies (Mond et al, 2007b(Mond et al, , 2009bMond & Arrighi, 2012). Fourth, the current study research, like that of Mond et al (2006b), included only female participants.…”

“…These criteria have been found to identify a highly symptomatic subgroup of women-in terms of eating disorder psychopathology, general psychological distress, and functional impairment-in several previous, community-based studies (Mond & Arrighi, 2012;Mond et al, 2007b;Mond, Hay, Rodgers, & Owen, 2009b).…”

“…Replication in a sample of college women may be particularly important, for at least three reasons. First, the prevalence of bulimic eating Downloaded by [University of Reading] at 09:58 03 January 2015 disorders, and of risk factors for these disorders, such as body dissatisfaction, is significantly higher among college women than among women of similar age in the general population (Luce, Crowther, & Pole, 2008;Mond & Arrighi, 2012). Second, the peak age of onset for bulimic-type eating disorders is late adolescence to early adulthood, i.e., when many young women begin tertiary studies (Hudson et al, 2007;Preti et al, 2009).…”

Major References for Learning About Healthy Eating: Differences Between Canadian Anglophone and Francophone Men and Women

“…To achieve these "ideal," yet often unrealistic, appearances, individuals often alter their eating behaviors. This can contribute to the development of eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa (Mond & Arrighi, 2012). Thus, it is not surprising that dieting is strongly linked to the essence of femininity in the contemporary era (Meyer, Blissett, & Oldfield, 2001).…”