Self‐esteem, personality, and eating disorders: Baseline assessment of a prospective population‐based cohort

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship of self‐esteem and personality factors with eating disorders (ED). Methods A region‐wide representative sample of 2862 girls 12–21 years old from Navarre (Spain) participated in the baseline assessment of a prospective study. A two‐stage procedure was used, consisting in a first screening phase followed by a psychiatrist interview (DSM‐IV criteria). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association of self‐esteem (36‐item scale) and personality characteristics (Eysenck inventory) with psychiatrist‐diagnosed ED while controlling for potential confounders. Results Strong associations for ED were found with low self‐esteem (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR] for the lowest quartile: 7.98, 95% CI: 3.4–18.8) and high levels of neuroticism (adjOR for the highest quartile: 9.49, 95% Cl: 3.7–24.5). Discussion Our results, although based on a cross‐sectional design, support the potential role of neuroticism and low self‐esteem in the onset of ED. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 31: 261–273, 2002; DOI 10.1002/eat.10040