Self-silencing and anger regulation as predictors of disordered eating among adolescent females

The main purpose of this study was to examine how self-silencing, emotional regulation, and body-esteem differentiated healthy eating from different patterns of disordered eating. A community sample of adolescent females was classified as either: 1) Restrained Eaters (n = 104, Mage = 14.48); 2) Emotional Eaters (n = 125, Mage = 14.52); or, 3) Healthy Eaters (n = 396, Mage = 13.71). A discriminant function analysis revealed two significant functions. The first function differentiated the two disordered eating groups (i.e., the restrained and emotional eaters) from the healthy group, with the disordered eating groups scoring significantly higher on levels of self-silencing and anger regulation, and lower on body-esteem. The second function differentiated between the restrained and emotional eaters, with the emotional eaters reporting higher levels of externalized self-perception and anger, and lower levels of body-esteem. The results suggest that body-esteem and anger suppression were the most influential variables in differentiating between groups. The findings are discussed in terms of the implications for disordered eating prevention and treatment programs.

Research Highlights
► Restrained and emotional eaters were differentiated from the healthy group.
► Emotional eaters reported higher levels of anger suppression and anger expression.
► Restrained eaters reported significantly lower levels of body-esteem.
► Overall, body-esteem and anger suppression were the most influential variables.