Abstract
Debra McIvor's Abstract
This study investigated the connection between Body Dissatisfaction and Drive
for Thinness to several psychological correlates- Ineffectiveness, Interpersonal
Distrust, Perfectionism, Interoceptive Awareness, and Maturity Fears. Regression
analyses indicated that these five correlates together accounted for 23% of the
variance in a measure of Body Dissatisfaction. Body Dissatisfaction and the five
correlates together accounted for 52% of the variance in a measure of Drive for
Thinness. Results of the path analysis confirmed that Ineffectiveness, Interoceptive
Awareness and Maturity Fears were the strongest predictors of Body Dissatisfaction.
In turn, Body Dissatisfaction, Ineffectiveness and Interoceptive Awareness were
the strongest predictors of Drive for Thinness. Gender differences and prevalence
rates of eating disordered behavior were reviewed. Consistent with other research,
this study confirmed high levels of bingeing and purging behavior (44%) among
college men and women.
