Some predictors of attitudes towards anorexia nervosa

Meštrović, Antonela. (2014). Some predictors of attitudes towards anorexia nervosa. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology. [mentor Lauri Korajlija, Anita].

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore differences in attitudes towards anorexia nervosa regarding participants’ gender, personal vulnerability for developing an eating disorder and success in recognizing symptoms of anorexia described in the vignette. The convenience sample was collected via Internet and it comprised 730 participants; 599 women and 131 men. After reading the vignette describing a fictional 15-year-old female meeting diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa, participants solved the questionnaire which addressed attitudes towards anorexia as well as the SCOFF questionnaire which aimed to screen participants' vulnerability for developing an eating disorder. Results indicate that women with greater knowledge of anorexia symptoms believe in better long-term outcomes of anorexia, they are less likely to blame the described person as well as to minimize her problem, while there was no significant difference found in men depending on knowledge. There were differences in attitudes towards anorexia depending on gender and personal vulnerability. Men are more likely to blame the person described in the vignette and minimize her problems. There were significant interactions of gender and personal vulnerability on items addressing admiration and long-term outcomes. These interactions suggest that gender differences are prominent in participants who themselves have vulnerability for developing an eating disorder. Men with the risk of developing an eating disorder had the most negative attitudes about long-term outcomes of anorexia, as opposed to women with the same risk. Vulnerable participants, and especially women, were more likely to admire the person described in the vignette.

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