Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Disordered Eating During Early Adolescence

Risk and protective factors associated with disordered eating were examined among 363 girls (X age =12.9 years) in middle-level school. The variables included self-report ratings of competence and of the importance of physical appearance and social acceptance by peers, self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism, negative events, and parental support. In a multivariate regression analysis, low competence in physical appearance, high importance of social acceptance, high self-oriented perfectionism, and low paternal support were correlated significantly with reports of high levels of disordered eating. The negative influence of low physical appearance competence on disordered eating was attenuated for those girls who placed low, as compared with high, levels of importance on physical appearance. Paternal support was found to have a protective function in regard to disordered eating for those girls who experienced high, as compared with low, levels of school-related negative events. Implications for school-based prevention strategies are discussed.