DClinPsy Portfolio Volume 1 of 3 - University of Hertfordshire ...

There was also no significant difference found between perfectionism and EDR counter
to previous research that has found perfectionism to be a risk factor in the eating
disorders. Moreover, EDR was considered in relation to BMI groups and an association
was found χ² = 11.30, df = 4, p = 0.02, Contingency Coefficient 0.33. Furthermore selfesteem
was found to be positively associated with EDR as was predicted.
Lastly the logistic regression analysis found that low self esteem was the strongest
predictor of EDR. The other four predictor variables included in this analysis included
inflexibility, body image acceptance, depression and anxiety.
Discussion
This study aimed to explore the primary hypotheses that inflexibility would be associated
with disordered eating in adolescent females measured as eating disorder risk (EDR).
Body image acceptance (defined by ACT), depression and anxiety were also explored in
relation to EDR and BMI groups.
Inflexibility was associated with lower acceptance of body image and those most at risk
of an eating disorder were found to be less accepting of their body image and had higher
inflexibility, depression and anxiety. This was as predicted and is in accordance with the
ACT theory that holds lower acceptance to be a part of inflexibility as flexibility includes
‘acceptance’ (defined above) and inflexibility includes the opposite of ‘acceptance’ (i.e.
experiential avoidance). Therefore, inflexibility is implicated in eating pathology and
these findings add weight to its importance as a transtheoretical process to be included in
the understanding and treatment of eating pathology as well as co-occurring disorders.
Of the additional research questions focusing on other contributing factors, it was found
that those reporting an eating disorder history in the family had higher inflexibility and
significantly more were in the high EDR group.
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