The influence of personality traits on body image in female patients with an eating disorder versus a dual diagnosis: A cross-sectional study.

Body dissatisfaction (BD) is well-studied in eating disorder (ED) populations but remains unexplored in dual diagnosis (DD) populations, such as co-occurring ED and substance use disorder. This cross-sectional study compared BD levels between ED and DD groups and examined the influence of personality traits. Sixty-five female patients with either an ED (n = 39; Mage = 26.8, SD = 8.8) or DD (n = 26; Mage = 28.9, SD = 8.4) completed standardized measures of BD and personality traits. Descriptive statistics, group comparisons, and linear regression analyses were conducted. BD levels did not significantly differ between groups. In the ED group, higher impulsivity, lower self-transcendence, and younger age were associated with greater BD. In the DD group, higher novelty seeking, confounded by lower self-directedness, was associated with greater BD. These findings suggest that distinct personality traits are associated with BD in ED and DD populations, highlighting potential targets for interventions aiming to alleviate BD.