The specific content of core beliefs and schema in adolescent girls high and low in eating disorder symptoms

The specific content of core beliefs and schema in adolescent girls high and low in eating disorder symptoms was investigated using the Eating Disorder Belief Questionnaire (EDBQ)-negative self-beliefs sub-scale and Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ). Girls with high Eating Attitude Test (EAT) scores had higher scores on both measures (using total and sub-scale scores) than girls with low EAT scores. However, all scores were related to eating disorder as well as depressive symptoms. Analysis of individual items on the EDBQ and YSQ found that scores on all EDBQ, but not all YSQ items, differed between the two groups, with higher scores in the high EAT group. However, a number of individual items (on both measures) in the high EAT group, as well as in the low EAT group, were related specifically to eating disorder symptoms and not also to depressive symptoms.