Exploring the construct validity of the eating disorder continuum

Although many counseling psychologists conceptualize eating disturbances along a continuum of degree, there appears to be a dearth of research exploring the construct validity of this eating disorder continuum hypothesis (L. B. Mintz et al., 1997). Specific psychological, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics known to be related to clinical eating disorders (C. Fairburn, 1995; D. M. Garner, 1991) were examined in 2 studies undertaken to explore whether these characteristics vary by eating disorder continuum placement. In Study 1, Neuroticism, as measured by the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (FFI), was found to vary by continuum placement in a sample of 169 women. In Study 2, 8 out of 9 Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) subscales and dieting locus of control varied significantly by continuum placement for a sample of 135 women. Scores on Neuroticism and many EDI-2 subscales (i.e., on which higher scores are more indicative of disordered eating) increased in a linear fashion, and women adopted a more internal dieting locus of control as the severity of disturbed eating increased, supporting the construct validity of the eating disorder continuum.