DEVELOPMENT OF BODY-IMAGE, EATING DISTURBANCE, AND GENERAL PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING IN FEMALE ADOLESCENTS - COVARIANCE STRUCTURE MODELING AND LONGITUDINAL INVESTIGATIONS

Objective: Covariance structure modeling (CSM) and longitudinal analys es were used to identify a possible causal sequence for factors that m ight lead to the development of body image and eating disturbance in a dolescent females. Method: In Study 1, subjects were measured for leve l of obesity, perceived weight status, maturational timing, history of being teased about weight/size, body image, eating disturbance, and g lobal psychological functioning. Study 2 was a systematic replication of Study 1 using different indices of body image and a more comprehens ive assessment of eating disturbance. In Study 3, subjects from Study 7 were reassessed at a 3-year follow-up. Results: The findings from St udy 1 indicated that level of obesity and perceived weight, but not ma turational timing, had a directional influence on the other variables. In addition, teasing history was significantly related to the develop ment of body image and eating disturbance. CSM and path analyses with Studies 2 and 3 data generally replicated and extended the results fro m Study 1. Discussion: These findings offer important insights into po ssible causal sequences for the development of body image and eating d isturbance. (C) 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.