Adolescent anorexia nervosa and self-concept [R]

Anorexia nervosa is an intriguing psychiatric disorder that is becoming a significant public health issue for adolescent girls around the world. Despite the proliferation of research and literature in the field, particularly concerning the aetiology, incidence and treatment for the disorder, little is understood about the aetiology of the disorder in the adolescent population. Researchers have suggested that low self-concept is one of many risk factors for eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa. Despite this, significant questions still remain about the relationship between self-concept and the severity and incidence of anorexia nervosa in adolescent girls in Australia. The pertinence of self-concept is undeniable due to its relevance to the personal and societal issues that exist in our society. This paper presents analyses of the multidimensional self-concepts of sixty-five adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa, and explores the relationships that exist between the distinct dimensions of the self-concept and eating disorder symptomotology.