EATING PROBLEMS AND INTERPERSONAL FUNCTIONING AMONG SEVERAL GROUPS OFWOMEN

This paper examines the relationship between eating disorders and prob lems in interpersonal functioning. Questionnaires that measure eating problems, interpersonal adjustment, and general neuroticism were compl eted by several groups of women: anorexic patients, persons whose inte rests or occupations involved a concern about bodily shape or conditio n (dancers, models, and athletes), and members of the general public. A substantial and significant relationship was found between eating sy mptomatology and interpersonal functioning in all groups. However, thi s association survived only in the anorexic patient group when general neuroticism was partialled out. We take this to imply that psychosoci al difficulties are unlikely to play a strong role in the initial deve lopment of eating problems.