Restraint, bulimia, and psychopathology

This study investigated the similarities between bulimia and dietary restraint by examining how these variables related to each other as well as to two standardized measures of psychopathology. Female college students completed the restraint scale (which consists of a weight fluctuation (WF) and a concern with dieting (CD) factor), a bulimia scale (BULIT), a narcissism scale (NPDS), and a maldajustment scale (Mt). Bulimia was significantly correlated with restraint and each of its factors; however, it was most strongly related to the CD factor. When WF was controlled, bulimia and CD were significantly correlated, whereas when CD was controlled, bulimia and WF were not related. However, despite their strong relation with each other, bulimia and CD did not show similar patterns of relations with narcissism and maladjustment. Bulimia was significantly related to maladjustment when narcissism was controlled. In contrast, CD was significantly related to narcissism when maladjustment was controlled. In summary, bulimia and the CD factor of restraint appear to be overlapping constructs; however, they are associated with different types of psychopathology.