A meta-analysis of the dependency-eating-disorders relationship: Strength, specificity, and temporal stability

Meta-analysis of studies examining the dependency-eating-disorders relationship revealed that (1) there is a positive association between interpersonal dependency levels and eating disorder symptoms/diagnoses (r = .25); (2) this relationship is comparable in anorexic and bulimic participants; (3) although dependent personality disorder symptoms are elevated in eating-disordered participants, so are the symptoms of several other personality disorders; and (4) when eating disorder symptoms remit, dependency levels decrease. Conclusion: There is a statistically significant link between interpersonal dependency and eating disorders, but this relationship is modest in magnitude, nonspecific, and varies with eating disorder symptom levels. Clinical, empirical, and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.