Examining the association between deficits in self-concept clarity and eating disorder severity

Objective

We sought to (1) compare self-concept clarity (SCC; the degree to which a person possesses a confidently defined, internally consistent, and stable sense of self) between female participants with and without eating disorders, (2) examine associations between SCC deficits and severity of eating disorder specific and related psychopathology in individuals with eating disorders, and (3) determine if there is a unique association between SCC deficits and eating disorder severity, controlling for related psychopathology.

Method

Participants (M age = 23.16 years) with eating disorders (n = 121) and controls (n = 63) completed semi-structured clinical interviews and self-report assessments.

Results

SCC deficits were significantly greater in the eating disorder compared to the control group. In the eating disorder group, greater SCC deficits were significantly associated with greater severity of eating pathology, depression, impulsivity, and trait anxiety. In a hierarchical regression analysis, significant associations between SCC deficits and Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) Global scores were better accounted for by shared variance with anxiety.

Discussion

SCC deficits may reflect a transdiagnostic feature related to the severity of a range of mental health problems, suggesting potential benefit of transdiagnostic interventions.