The Mediating Effect of Maladaptive Beliefs on the Association of Personality Dysfunction and Disordered Eating
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Substantial evidence exists that personality traits may impact the onset, course, symptom presentation, treatment outcome, and maintenance of eating disorders (Cassin & Vonranson, 2005). Despite a strong link between personality traits and eating disorders, research to understand the mediators of this relationship is lacking to date. Both disordered eating and personality dysfunction are thought to be perpetuated by a cycle of maladaptive beliefs (Cooper & Hunt, 1998; Dweck 2008). We believe that personality pathology may lead to disordered eating because personality pathology comes with maladaptive beliefs that promote pathological eating behaviors. Additionally, maladaptive beliefs may be responsible for the link between personality and eating disorders, and it follows that holistic eating disorder treatment encompasses both factors. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate general maladaptive beliefs as mediators for the relationship between personality dysfunction and disordered eating within a sample of 304 college students. Results showed that maladaptive beliefs may partially mediate the relationship between personality dysfunction and disordered eating; using the Baron and Kenny method of mediation, we found the indirect effect of maladaptive beliefs on disordered eating was significant, β = .22 (p < .001). These findings suggest that maladaptive beliefs may constitute a common risk factor or experience in both disordered eating and personality pathology. We conclude that treatment for eating disorders should address maladaptive beliefs and personality dysfunction.
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4214907153