Identity impairment and the eating disorders: content and organization of the self‐concept in women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

Abstract

Objective The cognitive model of the self‐concept was used to test the theoretical proposition that disturbances in overall identity development are a core vulnerability that lead to formation of a fat body weight self‐definition and eating disorder symptomatology. Method Structural properties of the self‐concept, availability in memory of a fat body weight self‐schema, and eating disordered attitudes and behaviours were measured in women with anorexia nervosa (AN) (n = 26), bulimia nervosa (BN) (n = 53) and controls (n = 32). Results Women with (AN) and (BN) had fewer positive and more negative and highly interrelated self‐schemas compared to controls, and women with BN showed information processing evidence of a fat self‐schema available in memory. These self‐concept properties predicted eating disordered attitudes and behaviour. Discussion Disturbances in the overall collection of identities—an impoverished self—is an important contributor to eating disorder symptomatology. The development of new positive selves may be an important factor in recovery. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.