Abstract
Abstract
Objective: Body checking behaviours appear to be a manifestation of the cognitive distortions that are central to the maintenance of the eating disorders. However, there is little understanding of the cognitions that drive these behaviours. This study validates a novel measure of such cognitions (Body Checking Cognitions Scale; BCCS), and determines the relationship between checking cognitions, body checking behaviours and general eating pathology.
Method: Forty-one eating-disordered women and 205 non-eating-disordered women each completed measures of body checking behaviours, body checking cognitions and eating pathology.
Results: The BCCS was reliable and valid. Eating-disordered women were significantly more likely to experience body checking cognitions than healthy women. Those cognitions were related to eating pathology over and above the impact of checking behaviours.
Discussion: This study provides evidence for a range of beliefs underlying body checking behaviour in eating-disordered women, necessitating interventions that address those beliefs.
Translated title of the contribution | Body checking in the eating disorders: Associations between cognitions and behaviors |
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Original language | English |
Pages (from-to) | 708 - 715 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | International Journal of Eating Disorders |
Volume | 39 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |