Personality and affectivity characteristics associated with eating disorders: A comparison of eating disordered, weight-preoccupied, and normal samples

The purpose of this study was to assess the relative contribution of person ality and emotional experience to self-reported eating attitudes in a group of patients with clinically diagnosed eating disorders, a weight-reduction training group (Weight Watchers(R)), and a control group without body weig ht problems. Participants in this study (N = 114) completed Estonian versio ns of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2; Garner, 1991), NEO Personalit y Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1989), and Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule, Expanded Form Watson & Clark, 1994. Data demonstrated validity o f the Estonian version of EDI-2 in its ability to identify problems on a co ntinuum of disordered eating behavior. Among the Big Five personality dimen sions, Neuroticism made the largest contribution to EDI-2 subscales. Two ot her dimensions, Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness, also predispo se individuals to eating problems. Personality traits made a larger contrib ution to the self-reported eating pathology than the self-rated effects exp erienced during the last few weeks. It was argued that personality disposit ions have a larger relevancy in the etiology of eating disorders than emoti onal state.