Predicting Unhealthy Eating Behaviors and Attitudes Based on Concerns about Body Deformity, Difficulty in Emotion Regulation, and Dysfunctional Reactions in Adolescent Girls

This study was undertaken to predict unhealthy eating behaviors and attitudes based on concerns about body deformity, difficulty in emotion regulation, and dysfunctional reactions in adolescent girls. The present study had a descriptive, correlational design. The statistical population included all adolescent girls aged between 14 and 20 in Kermanshah in 2018 from among whom 150 individuals were selected through convenience sampling method. Research instruments included Eating Disorders Inventory (Williamson et al., 1990), Body Image Concern Inventory (Littleton et al., 2005), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004) and Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (Chan & Wong, 1994). Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were utilized to analyze the data. The results showed that anxiety about body deformity, difficulty in emotion regulation, and dysfunctional reactions had positive, significant relationships with unhealthy eating behaviors and attitudes (P<0.001). Results of regression analysis also revealed that all predictor variables could account for 27% of the changes in unhealthy eating behaviors and attitudes. Findings demonstrated that concerns about body deformity, difficulty in emotion regulation, and dysfunctional reactions can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors and attitudes in adolescent girls; hence, it is suggested that health therapists pay attention to this critical issue.