A STUDY OF THE RELATION BETWEEN EATING DISORDER AND DEATH CONCERN

The relationship between eating disorder and various components of dea th orientation (fear, anxiety, acceptance and concern) was examined, t aking into account the level of depression in patient samples as well as elements of religiosity. The results were not able to support more than a very modest relationship between eating disorder and death orie ntation. Eating disorder patients could not be distinguished from othe r clinical controls, nor did anorexia nervosa patients differ from oth er eating disorder patients in this respect. Beck and Beck [20] depres sion scores were higher in the non eating disordered clinical sample t han in the eating disorder group, and death concern was shown to be re lated to the severity of depression. Religiosity did not appear import ant when indices of religiosity were considered, but did emerge as an important factor in the ''free information'' provided by participants.