Core beliefs, recalled parental rearing and eating psychopathology across different age groups

This study explored and compared the patterns of core beliefs, recalled parental rearing behaviours and eating psychopathology in non-clinical females of different ages; university staff and university students. No differences were found between the two age groups except that younger women had higher Drive for Thinness scores. However, core beliefs were associated with eating attitudes and behaviours in younger women and with recalled parental rearing behaviours in older women. The results suggest that younger women tend to externalise their negative core beliefs in the form of disordered eating behaviour whereas older women appear to express their dysfunctional core beliefs in ways other than weight and shape-related issues. The possible mechanisms behind these findings require further investigation.