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Mentalization and dysfunctional eating behaviors: the mediating role of body uneasiness
Gelsomina Cecere1, Ilaria La Penna1, Gianluca Poselek1
1Developmental Neuroscience Research Lab (DNR Lab), Department of International Humanities and Social Sciences, Rome University of International Studies, Rome, Italy.
Introduction:
Adolescence is a vulnerable period with heightened risk of dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors; the mechanisms linking mentalization difficulties to eating behavior via body uneasiness remain unclear.
Methods:
91 Italian adolescents completed the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ). Spearman correlations and bootstrap mediation analysis were conducted using JASP.
Results:
Lower mentalization was associated with higher body uneasiness and dysfunctional eating attitudes. Mediation analysis showed that body uneasiness statistically accounted for the association between mentalization difficulties and dysfunctional eating behaviors (indirect effect significant; direct effect non-significant).
Discussion:
Body uneasiness may serve as an intermediary process linking self-reported mentalization difficulties to dysfunctional eating patterns in adolescence. Findings are cross-sectional and causal interpretation is not warranted.
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