Body Dissatisfaction as a Mediator between Identity Formation and Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Adolescents and Emerging Adults

Objective: Eating disorder symptomatology generally develops during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Previous research has focused on the role of identity formation or body image in the development of eating disorder symptomatology, but integrative work is lacking. For this reason, the present cross-sectional study examined the mediating role of body dissatisfaction in the relation between identity formation and eating disorder symptomatology. Method: The sample comprised 659 participants between 15 and 30 years old (68.9% females; Mage = 19.44; SDage = 3.99). All participants completed self-report measures on identity (Self-concept and Identity Measure), body dissatisfaction (the Body Image Feelings and Attitudes subscale of the Body Investment Scale and the Body Dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3), and eating disorder symptomatology (Eating Disorder Inventory-3). Latent variable modeling from a structural equation modeling approach was used. Results: First, identity formation significantly predicted eating disorder symptomatology. Additionally, indirect effects were found linking identity formation to eating disorder symptomatology through the mechanism of body dissatisfaction. No significant differences between males and females or between adolescents and emerging adults on direct or indirect effects were found. Conclusion: The present study indicated that body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between identity formation and eating disorder symptomatology during mid-to-late adolescence and emerging adulthood. Provided that the present findings can be replicated in a future longitudinal study, they demonstrate that both identity formation and body dissatisfaction should be taken into account in prevention and intervention programs targeting eating disorder symptomatology.status: publishe

Eating disorder symptoms throughout adolescence: Identifying developmental trajectory classes

Introduction. Eating disorder (ED) symptomatology is highly prevalent in adolescence and is regarded an important precursor of clinical EDs. The present longitudinal study aims to (1) examine the development of ED symptomatology in adolescence, (2) identify latent trajectory classes, and (3) examine whether psychosocial development varies among these classes. Methods. The study comprised three annual waves, with a total of 528 high school students participating at Time 1 (50.6% female; Mage=15 years; range 11-19) by filling out self-report questionnaires. Latent growth curve modeling and latent class growth analysis (LCGA) were performed. Results. At the group level, stable trajectories of drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction were found, whereas bulimia and Body Mass Index significantly increased over time. Important gender differences were found, with girls experiencing higher ED symptomatology than boys. Subsequently, LCGA were conducted separately for girls and boys, pointing to more diverse trajectory classes in girls (4 classes) than in boys (2 classes). Finally, class membership was related to the development of identity confusion, internalizing symptoms, and effortful control. Conclusions. The present study underscores the importance of identifying vulnerable adolescents that experience greater ED symptomatology, as they seem to experience the worst psychosocial development.status: publishe

Identity formation and psychopathological symptoms in adolescence : examining developmental trajectories and co-development

Identity development is a prominent task during adolescence, and the way adolescents develop their identity is an important factor in psychopathology. The present study aimed to identify different identity trajectory classes and investigated how these classes are related to psychopathological symptoms (i.e., depressive symptoms; eating disorder symptoms; somatic symptoms and related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and substance use). A total of 599 Flemish adolescents aged 12–18 at Time 1 (41.3% female; Mage = 14.93) participated at three annual measurement points. Five identity trajectory classes emerged using latent class growth analysis (achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, carefree diffusion-increasing exploration, troubled diffusion). In addition, multigroup latent growth curve modeling demonstrated the co-development of identity trajectory classes with psychopathology. Adolescents in classes reflecting maladaptive identity functioning, such as moratorium and troubled diffusion, displayed significantly more psychopathological symptoms. These findings indicate the importance of targeting identity functioning in the prevention and intervention of psychopathology among adolescents

Identity Distress Throughout Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Age Trends and Associations with Exploration and Commitment Processes

The process of identity formation can cause a considerable amount of distress leading to pathological forms of identity distress. The present study examined age trends in identity distress and associations with identity exploration and commitment in a sample of 2,286 Flemish adolescents and emerging adults (14-30 years; 55.7% females). Important and theoretically meaningful age trends in identity distress were uncovered. More specifically, identity distress demonstrated a curvilinear trend with the highest levels of distress occurring in emerging adulthood. Concerning the associations between identity distress and identity processes, we found differences among the age periods studied. Identity distress was especially positively related to exploration in breadth and negatively to commitment making in the late twenties, but less so in adolescence and the early twenties. In sum, these results provide important insights into identity distress throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood. Theoretical implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.Special Issue: SSEA 2018 Romania, Self and Identitystatus: Published onlin

Identity formation, body image, and body-related symptoms : developmental trajectories and associations throughout adolescence

Emerging evidence highlights the intricate link between identity and one’s body, however, integrative longitudinal research on this identity-body interplay is lacking. The current study used three-wave longitudinal data (Time 1: N = 403; 52.1% female; M(age) = 14.85, SD = 0.89, range = 13–19 years) spanning two years (2019–2021; T1 and T2 being pre-pandemic, T3 peri-pandemic) to identify identity trajectory classes and examine their co-development with negative and positive body image and various body-related variables (i.e., sociocultural pressures, internalization of appearance ideals, self-objectification, appearance comparison, and eating disorder symptoms). First, four identity classes emerged using latent class growth analysis (achievement, moratorium, carefree diffusion, and troubled diffusion). Second, using multigroup latent growth curve modeling, adolescents in less adaptive identity trajectory classes (i.e., engaging less in pro-active processes and more in ruminative processes) displayed higher levels of negative body image and body-related symptoms. The current study testified to the clinically meaningful associations linking identity formation to adolescents’ body image and other body-related symptoms

Disturbed Eating Behaviors in Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A One-Year Prospective Study

OBJECTIVE: Disturbed eating behavior (DEB) is prevalent in youth with type 1 diabetes and is accompanied by an increased risk for complications, morbidity, and mortality. Prospective studies on DEB in the challenging transition to adulthood are scarce. This longitudinal study examined DEB over a 1-year period and investigated the directionality of effects linking DEB to diabetes-specific functioning and depressive symptoms in adolescents and emerging adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Three hundred youth (16-28 years old) with type 1 diabetes participated in a two-wave longitudinal study. Questionnaires measured DEB (Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised [DEPS-R]), self-management, diabetes distress, and depressive symptoms. HbA1c values were obtained from physicians. Mixed ANOVA and cross-lagged analysis were used to examine prospective changes and directionality of effects, respectively. RESULTS: Mean DEB remained stable in the total sample, but significant individual differences were observed based on the cutoff score of the DEPS-R: 19% displayed persistent DEB and 8% increased and 7.3% decreased in DEB over time. The remaining individuals scored low on DEB over time. These four groups were differentiated based on insulin restriction, omission, diabetes-specific functioning, and depressive symptoms. Cross-lagged analyses indicated that DEB predicted relative increases in depressive symptoms over time, whereas reciprocal associations with glycemic control were found. CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal study highlights the substantial impact DEB may have in the transition to adulthood, with a substantial portion of youth with type 1 diabetes being at risk for clinical DEB. Prospective pathways linking DEB to functioning were found, emphasizing the clinical relevance of assessing DEB over time.status: publishe