Self-presentational motives in eating disordered behavior: A known groups difference approach

ObjectiveThis study investigated the role of self-presentation motivation across three groups with known differences in disordered eating behavior.MethodsFemale participants (N = 131) were currently in-treatment for an eating disorder (n = 39), deemed at-risk (n = 46), or not-at-risk for an eating disorder (n = 46). All participants completed general and physique-specific measures of self-presentation motivation.ResultsResults revealed significant moderate differences between groups. Those not-at-risk reported lower levels of self-presentation motivation across all measures compared to those in the other groups. Those at-risk reported significantly lower scores across global measures of self-presentation motivation, but not physique-specific motives, than those in-treatment. A discriminant function analysis demonstrated that self-presentation motivation correctly classified 63.4% of cases.DiscussionResults suggest that self-presentation motives may be particularly salient for individuals at-risk or in-treatment for eating disordered behavior.