TESTING A DUAL-PROCESS FAMILY MODEL IN UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EATING PATHOLOGY - A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING ANALYSIS

Objective: The present study tested a dual-process family model in und erstanding the relationships among dysfunctional family relationships, family preoccupation with weight and appearance, and body- and self-e steem problems in the development of eating and psychiatric symptoms. Method: Subjects, 918 adolescent girls from eight high schools, comple ted measures assess,ng familial factors, body- and self-esteem problem s, and eating and general psychiatric symptoms. Results: Structural eq uation analyses suggested that family environment contributed to the d evelopment of eating and psychiatric symptoms through two interrelated pathways. On one hand, family preoccupation with weight and appearanc e had direct effects on body dissatisfaction and eating symptoms. Body dissatisfaction had direct effects on self-esteem deficit and eating symptoms, and indirect effects mediated by self-esteem deficit on eati ng and psychiatric symptoms. On the other hand, general family dysfunc tion had direct effect on negative self-esteem, and indirect effects t hrough negative self-esteem on eating and psychiatric symptoms. Discus sion: Findings are discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms by which dysfunctional family relationships and family preoccupation wit h weight may predispose girls to eating pathology. (C) 1996 by John Wi ley & Sons, Inc.