Body dissatisfaction: A feature of bulimia, depression, or both?

Author(s): Wonderlich, S. A., Metalsky, G. I., Schmidt, N. B.

Journal/Book: J Soc Clin Psychol. 1995; 14: 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012. Guilford Press. 339-355.

Abstract: We conducted two studies to examine the interrelations of body dissatisfaction, depression, and bulimia. Study 1 was conducted using two samples, both nonclinical. Depressed, bulimic, and anxious symptoms, as well as body dissatisfaction, were measured among undergraduate females. Consistent with prediction, depression and bulimia were each uniquely associated with body dissatisfaction, whereas anxious symptoms were not. Study 2 included samples of clinical bulimics, clinical depressives, and nonpsychiatric controls. Surprisingly, in an analysis done on the bulimics and controls, depressed symptoms, but not bulimic/nonbulimic diagnostic status, were uniquely associated with body dissatisfaction. Similarly, in an analysis done on the clinical depressives and controls, mood-disordered diagnostic status was uniquely associated with body dissatisfaction, whereas bulimic symptoms were not. Implications for the social psychology of body dissatisfaction, as well as the phenomenology and treatment of bulimia and depression, are discussed.

Note: Article TE Joiner, Univ Texas, Med Branch, Dept Psychiat & Behav Sci, D-25, 3 102 Graves Bldg, Galveston, TX 77555 USA

Keyword(s): PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES; SELF-ESTEEM; VULNERABILITY; INVENTORY; ANXIETY; MODEL

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