How Anorexic-like Are the Symptom and Personality Profiles of Aesthetic Athletes?

• DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000210188.70295.c0
• Publication Date: 2006-05-05T09:20:56Z
• Authors: RACHEL BACHNER-ME...; ADA H. ZOHAR; RICHARD P. EBSTEIN; YOEL ELIZUR; NAAMA CONSTANTINI
• Keywords: Perfectionism; Anorexia nervosa; Dieting; Cooperativeness; Eating Disorder Inventory; Eating Attitudes Test

Purpose: We tested the hypothesis that aesthetic athletes (AA) have anorexic-like eating attitudes and behaviors, share personality characteristics such as perfectionism obsessiveness, are at high risk of disorders. Methods: compared symptomatology, variables typical anorexia nervosa, lifetime disorder prevalence across four groups Israeli women: 31 anorexics, 111 AA (mostly dancers), 68 nonaesthetic (NAA), 248 controls. All participants completed self-report measures harm avoidance, perfectionism, self-esteem, self-rated facial attractiveness were screened for Those screening positively interviewed diagnosed using structured clinical interview DSM-IV. Results: Scores anorexic women differed from those three other in expected direction on all variables. NAA scored similarly to controls, but had greater body satisfaction less drive thinness. Surprisingly, did not differ control any measure. However, significantly more (11.7%) than (5.8%) controls (4.4%) a diagnosis otherwise specified (EDNOS). The behavior 13 with history EDNOS fell intermediately between whereas their profile resembled Conclusions: Being female athlete Israel appears promote esteem offer some protection preoccupation dieting. also appear enjoy excellent psychological health; however, subgroup has receive appropriate treatment it. These results lend credibility existence diagnostic entity athletica, proposed be subclinical, environmentally influenced favorable prognosis.