Date of Award
2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Eating disorders are pervasive mental illnesses with varied conceptualizations, etiologies, and treatments including cognitive behavioral and family-based therapies. A number of theories have developed regarding risk factors and personality components of eating disorders, and one receiving recent interest regards interpersonal functioning. Hartmann, Zeeck, and Barrett (2010) hypothesized that interpersonal difficulties may be an underlying core component of eating disorders in males and females. Some research investigating this hypothesis has utilized the interpersonal circumplex, which has suggested that individuals with eating disorders have higher levels of negative interactions with others, lower assertiveness, higher rates of aggressiveness and social anxiety, and deficits in social skills (Hartmann et al., 2010). However, research regarding the interpersonal functioning of individuals possessing eating disorder traits, such as body dissatisfaction, is less common and largely mixed. The present study seeks to clarify and extend past research by ascertaining the interpersonal features associated with eating disorder characteristics. These interpersonal features may have deleterious effects on interpersonal outcomes, but the evidence supporting this contention is usually cross-sectional, and hence, more prospective studies are needed. Based on the limited amount of previous research, it is hypothesized that individuals with high levels of body dissatisfaction, binge eating, purging, and emotional eating will have a hostile-submissive interpersonal style with corresponding interpersonal goals/motives, whereas individuals with high levels of body dissatisfaction and restriction will have a submissive interpersonal style. To the extent that subthreshold eating disorder characteristics are associated with hostility or submissiveness, significant associations should be demonstrated between each characteristic and loneliness, negative social experiences, and decreased social support. Lastly, it is hypothesized that subthreshold eating disorder characteristics will predict the frequency of negative social exchanges at a two-week follow up. The present study has the potential to increase understanding of eating disorder traits in the interpersonal realm, which may have implications for the understanding of the etiology and revised treatment of eating disorders.
Recommended Citation
Pointon, Gabrielle E., "An Investigation Of Interpersonal Profiles Of Eating Disorder Characteristics Using The Interpersonal Circumplex" (2019). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1555.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1555