Core beliefs and social anxiety in the eating disorders

Eat Weight Disord. 2007 Mar;12(1):e14-8. doi: 10.1007/BF03327776.

Abstract

Social anxiety is a common comorbid problem in the eating disorders. The present study investigated whether specific types of core beliefs are common in eating-disordered individuals presenting with high levels of social anxiety. The participants were a group of 191 women meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV) criteria for an eating disorder. Young's Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S) was used as a measure of core beliefs, while a brief version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation scale (Brief FNE) was used as a measure of social anxiety. The results showed that eating-disordered individuals with high levels of comorbid social anxiety report higher levels of socially-oriented core beliefs (abandonment; defectiveness/shame) than those who experience low levels of social anxiety. The findings highlight the potential importance of addressing core beliefs in specific groups of eating-disordered individuals. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / complications*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Phobic Disorders / complications*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Self Concept