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The associations between orthorexia nervosa and the sociocultural attitudes: the mediating role of basic psychological needs and health anxiety

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Abstract

Purpose

Given the range of negative correlates associated with orthorexia nervosa (ON), it is important to identify factors that might contribute to the elevated ON tendencies. Based on the tripartite model of influence, we tested whether sociocultural attitudes towards appearance (i.e., thin and muscular internalization as well as family, peer and media pressure) could contribute to ON. We hypothesized that these attitudes could exert their effect through the intervening processes basic psychological need fulfillment and health anxiety.

Methods

The hypotheses were tested on a sample of 710 young adults (Mage = 21.79, SDage = 2.31). Participants completed validated questionnaires measuring the constructs of interest.

Results

According to the structural equation modeling results, ON was predicted by thinness and muscular internalization as well as media pressure. Need fulfillment and health anxiety partially mediated these relationships. Family and peer pressure were not related to ON.

Discussion

The present results suggest that internalization of appearance ideas and media pressure contribute to ON through need fulfillment and health anxiety. These findings also provide novel insight into the nature of ON.

Level of evidence

Level V (descriptive cross-sectional study.

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Funding

The first author was supported by a Horizon Postdoctoral Fellowship from Concordia University in the preparation of the manuscript. The project was also supported by a research grant from the Faculty of Education and Psychology of Eötvös Loránd University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Substantive-Methodological Synergy Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke W, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, Canada

    István Tóth-Király

  2. Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

    Panna Gajdos, Nóra Román, Nikoletta Vass & Adrien Rigó

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  1. István Tóth-Király
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  2. Panna Gajdos
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  3. Nóra Román
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  4. Nikoletta Vass
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Correspondence to István Tóth-Király.

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Tóth-Király, I., Gajdos, P., Román, N. et al. The associations between orthorexia nervosa and the sociocultural attitudes: the mediating role of basic psychological needs and health anxiety. Eat Weight Disord 26, 125–134 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00826-1

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