Self-Recognition of an Eating Disorder and Treatment-Seeking Behavior

• Other Authors: Grillot, Charlotte Lucienne (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_2017SP_Grillot_fsu_0071N_13907

Many individuals with eating disorders do not self-identify as having an eating problem, and may therefore fail to seek or receive appropriate treatment. Factors that may influence eating disorder self-recognition and treatment-seeking behavior include demographic variables and symptom presentation. Previous research suggests that men and racial/ethnic minorities are less likely to seek treatment for an eating disorder than white women. The current study utilized a large community-based sample to examine predictors of self-recognition of an eating disorder and eating disorder treatment-seeking behavior, as well as differences in self-recognition and treatment-seeking behavior by gender and race/ethnicity. Results indicate that being female, greater current eating disorder symptom severity, current self-perception overweight, and having a higher current BMI were related to higher likelihood of current self-recognition of an eating disorder. Being female, greater lifetime eating disorder symptom severity, self-perception being underweight at adult lowest weight, and self-recognition of an eating disorder significantly increased the odds of having ever sought treatment for an ED. In symptom cluster models, binge eating and engaging in compensatory behaviors were both related to higher likelihood of self-recognition and treatment-seeking. Importantly, even when accounting for self-recognition, women were more likely than men to report ever seeking treatment for an eating disorder. Mediation models indicated that self-recognition partially mediated the relationship between gender and treatment-seeking, suggesting that help-seeking barriers extend beyond the problem of limited self-recognition. Results have implications for interventions designed to promote self-recognition of eating disturbances as serious problems, and the need to address barriers to treatment seeking both related and unrelated to self-recognition. === A Thesis submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the Master of Science. === Spring Semester 2017. === March 28, 2017. === Includes bibliographical references. === Pamela K. Keel, Professor Directing Thesis; Thomas Joiner, Committee Member; Colleen Ganley, Committee Member.