Self-Perception as a Predictor of Eating Disorder Severity in a Residential Sample of Women and Girls With Eating Disorders.

Abstract

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions with significant negative health outcomes, high mortality rates, and comorbid mental health conditions. Despite many available interventions for eating disorders, treatment remains challenging due to the difficulty in maintaining treatment gains. Understanding effective treatment processes is crucial. This study aimed to examine the role of self-perception components in predicting eating disorder severity in a residential sample of women and girls. Participants (N = 175) completed measures assessing eating disorder severity, self-kindness, self-judgment, and self-esteem at admission. Correlational analyses and structural equation modeling were used to explore these relationships. Results indicated that self-judgment and self-esteem were significant predictors of eating disorder severity, while self-kindness was not. These findings highlight the importance of targeting self-judgment and self-esteem in treating eating disorders, suggesting potential areas for therapeutic focus to improve treatment outcomes. Further research is needed to refine transdiagnostic interventions for eating disorders and explore their efficacy across clinical settings.