The underlying psychopathology of eating disorders and social phobia: a structural equation analysis

This study investigates the underlying psychopathology of disordered eating and social phobia behaviours by examining the interrelationships between variables thought to be common to both. The participants were 252 female tertiary students. Each completed measures of eating behaviours, social phobia, body esteem, fear of negative evaluation, social support, self-acceptance, and general psychopathology. Structural equation modelling was used to determine if fear of negative evaluation and social support had a direct or indirect effect on the behaviours of disordered eating, social phobia, and body esteem. Findings indicated that fear of negative evaluation had a direct and indirect effect on the behaviours associated with eating disorders and social phobia, and only an indirect effect on body esteem. Social support indirectly affected eating disorders, social phobia, and body esteem. Implications from this study are that social support, fears of being criticised or rejected by others, and low self-acceptance are important variables in the assessment of eating disorders and social phobia.