Bridging personality dimensions and eating symptoms: A transdiagnostic network approach

Abstract

Objective

Eating disorders (ED) have recently been studied from a network approach, conceptualising them as a complex system of interconnected variables, while highlighting the role of non-ED symptoms and personality dimensions. This study aims to explore the connections between personality and ED symptoms, identify central nodes, and compare the EDs network to a healthy control network.

Methods

We employed network analysis to examine the personality-ED symptom connections in 329 individuals with an ED diagnosis and 192 healthy controls. We estimated a regularised partial correlation network and the indices of centrality and bridge centrality to identify the most influential nodes for each group. Network differences between groups were also examined.

Results

Low Self-Directedness and high Harm avoidance emerged as central bridge nodes, displaying the strongest relationship with ED symptoms. Both networks differed in their global connectivity and structure, although no differences were found in bridge centrality and centrality indices.

Conclusions

These findings shed light on the role of personality dimensions, such as Self-Directedness and Harm Avoidance in the maintenance of ED psychopathology, supporting the transdiagnostic conceptualisation of ED. This study advances a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between personality dimensions and ED symptoms, offering potential directions for clinical interventions.