TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS OF THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL MODEL OF ANOREXIA-NERVOSA IN ADOLESCENTS

This study statistically tested six hypothesized risk factors of the m odel for anorexia nervosa. Forty-three adolescents with anorexia nervo sa and 85 controls were administered the EAT, EDI, and FES. In additio n, 43 parents of anorexics and 85 parents of controls completed the Fa mily History Data Sheet, the FES, and the Perfect Child Questionnaire. Three of six hypothesized risk factors were confirmed: family history of depression, feelings of ineffectiveness, and poor interceptive awa reness. Log-linear analysis indicated that the hierarchical model that best fit the data had significant two-way interactions with anorexia nervosa, G(2) (11, N = 128) = 65.87, p < .001. In addition, alcohol an d drug abuse or dependence figured prominently in the family history o f patients with anorexia nervosa. The multidimensional model for anore xia nervosa holds up as an exploratory model of this condition in the adolescent age group.