[Body attitudes and self-representation in women with eating disorders. Research based on Edward Tory Higgins' self-discrepancy theory].

AIM: The purpose was to evaluate the relationship between negative body-related attitudes and self-representation among patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

METHOD: A sample of 33 female anorexic, 38 female bulimic and 40 female students without eating disorders participated in present study. We used The Figure Rating Scale (Stunkard et al., 1983) and the Body Attitude Test (Probst et al., 1995).

RESULTS

The results showed that there are statistically significant differences in the ideal self, the ought self, actual-ideal discrepancy, actual-ought discrepancy, negative appreciation of body size, lack of familiarity with one's own body and general body dissatisfaction in the three examined groups. The results also indicate that the negative appreciation of body size and general body dissatisfaction are associated with actual-ideal discrepancy and actual-ought discrepancy in both groups of eating disordered patients.

CONCLUSION

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are related to self-discrepancies as well as negative body-related attitudes.