Date of Award

1992

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Pamela Nickels

Second Advisor

Judith Tindall

Third Advisor

Terrence Rohen

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate attitude demonstrated by participants in an outpatient multidimensional group treatment program for eating disorders. The problem concerned clarifying the attitudinal differences between eating disordered and non-eating disordered females after involvement in a time-limited treatment group. Procedural guidelines of the study were described for two groups designated as 5 eating disordered experimental subjects and 29 non-eating disordered control comparison subjects. Both groups completed the Eating Disorder Inventory, a 64-item self- report inventory which allowed measurement at pretest and posttest intervals. Data from this measure were collected before the beginning of treatment and again at expiration of the treatment -sessions. An overview of the data in comparison with the Eating Disorder Inventory normative clinical samples noted relatively consistent profiles for experimental and control subjects. Results of a differential data analysis of change scores from pretest to posttest indicated eating disordered females as compared with non-eating disordered females demonstrated significantly more attitudinal preoccupation for thinness, personal expectations of achievement, lack of confidence in recognizing personal states of hunger and satiety , and sustained more focus on the security of a preadolescent status . Shared attitudinal concerns about overeating, physical size , weight, body image, and feelings of ineffectiveness were demonstrated by both groups , The findings of the study underscored support of previous research for the thinness dimension where improvement for eating disordered individuals was related to treatment involvement ,

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