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Core beliefs and social anxiety in the eating disorders

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Abstract

Social anxiety is a common comorbid problem in the eating disorders. The present study investigated whether specific types of core beliefs are common in eating-disordered individuals presenting with high levels of social anxiety. The participants were a group of 191 women meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV) criteria for an eating disorder. Young’s Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S) was used as a measure of core beliefs, while a brief version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation scale (Brief FNE) was used as a measure of social anxiety. The results showed that eating-disordered individuals with high levels of comorbid social anxiety report higher levels of socially-oriented core beliefs (abandonment; defectiveness/shame) than those who experience low levels of social anxiety. The findings highlight the potential importance of addressing core beliefs in specific groups of eating-disordered individuals. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Hendrik Hinrichsen D.Clin.Psy. & G. Waller

  2. St. George’s Eating Disorders Service, South West London and St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK

    Hendrik Hinrichsen D.Clin.Psy.

  3. Vincent Square Clinic, Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK

    G. Waller & R. Dhokia

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  1. Hendrik Hinrichsen D.Clin.Psy.
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  2. G. Waller
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  3. R. Dhokia
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Correspondence to Hendrik Hinrichsen D.Clin.Psy..

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Hinrichsen, H., Waller, G. & Dhokia, R. Core beliefs and social anxiety in the eating disorders. Eat Weight Disord 12, e14–e18 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327776

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