The association between identity style, psychological well-being and factors associated with eating disorders in adolescent females

Abstract

Worldwide. adolescents are at risk of developing eating disorders since they tire in a process of negotiating important developmental tasks and are thus vulnerable to the internalisation of the thin ideal (Polivy 8: Herman, 2002). Body dissatisfaction, bulimia and drive for thinness haw been identified as the primary risk factors related to developing eating disorders (Garner, 2004). Despite the heightened vulnerability during adolescence and societal pressures to be thin. some adolescents are happy with their bodies and are not body dissatisfied nor have a drive for thinness. Since adolescence is associated with negotiating an identity. Berzonsky's (1999) socialcognitive model of identity formation is instrumental in exploring the relationship between identity style and factors associated with eating disorders. Furthermore, Berzonsky's (1999) informational identity style (IIS) as well as the normative identitystyle (NIS) are positively correlated to psychological well-being (PWB) whereas the diffuse-avoidant identity style (DAIS) is negatively correlated to PWB. Consensus has not been reached with regard to this (Adams et al.. 2001), thus this investigation may provide important information with regard to the application of identity styles and Ryffs (1995) six dimensions of PWB in Suture preventive programmes. This study aimed to investigate the relalionship between identity styles. the primary eating disorder risk factors, psychological traits associated with eating disorders and the six dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB). Furthermore. it aimed to investigate wllcther the three groups of identity styles differed significantly in terms of the primary eating disorder risk Factors, psychological traits associated with eating disorders and the six dimensions of PWB. Lastly, it aimed to investigate whether different age and race groups of adolescent girls differed significantly in identity style, primary eating disorder risk factors, psychological traits associated with eating disorders and PWB. A one-shot cross-sectional survey design was used in which an availability and multicultural sample of adolescent females(n=290) ranging from 13-to 17-year old in grades 9 to 11 attending an English high school in the Gauteng Province was used. They completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) (Garner, 2004). Identity Style Inventory (ISI) (Berzonsky, 1992). Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB) (Ryff, 1989a). a self-designed biographical questionnaire and their Body Mass Index (BMI) was recorded. Significant negative correlations were found between the dimensions of PWB, eating disorder risk factors and associated psychological traits. Self-acceptance, environmental mastery and positive relations appeared to be key dimensions negatively associated with the primary eating disorder risk factors and associated psychological traits. Identity styles did not differ significantly with regard to the primary eating disorder risk factors, however relationships were found between identity styles and some psychological traits associated with eating disorders. These included the positive correlation between the IIS and perfectionism, the negative correlation between the NIS versus personal alienation and interpersonal alienation and the positive correlation between the DAIS and introceptive deficits. Comparisons between the three identity styles and each of the six dimensions of PWB validared that female adolescents using an [IS and NIS experience greater levels of PWB than compared to their DAIS counterparts. Although age did not impact on the implementation of identity styles nor the primary eating disorder risk factors and associated psychological traits. the 17-year-old age group experienced greater levels of PWB with regard to autonomy, environmental mastery and personal growth. Furthermore, no significant differences were found with regard to race, identity styles. the primary eating disorder risk factors and PWB. Black female adolescents experienced more interpersonal insecurity and maturity fears than the White female adolescents in this study. These findings encourage the development of a regression model identifying protective factors in future research as well as constructing an effective preventive programme against eating disorders in female adolescents.