Inhibited expression of negative emotions and interpersonal orientation inanorexia nervosa

This study examined inhibited expression of negative feelings and interpers onal orientation in women with anorexia nervosa. Method: Twenty-one women m eeting DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa were compared with 21 psychiatr ic and 21 normal control women matched on education. Two measures were used to assess inhibited expression of negative feelings and interpersonal orie ntation: the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory assesses the suppressio n and expression of anger and the Silencing the Self Scale assesses four co gnitive schemas involving the repression of needs and feelings to protect i nterpersonal relationships. Results: Women with anorexia nervosa reported s ignificantly higher scores on the four Silencing the Self schemas and on su ppressed anger after controlling for age. These group differences were main tained for two of the cognitive schemas (Care and Silence) after controllin g for depression, self-esteem, and global assessment of functioning. Inhibi ted expression of negative emotion and interpersonal orientation scores wer e also significantly related to cognitive and affective components of body image dissatisfaction and to trait and self-presentational dimensions of pe rfectionism. Discussion: These findings are reviewed in the concert of heal th psychology, as well as feminist and temperament theories. Implications f or treatment are addressed. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.