Body dissatisfaction as a risk factor of eating disturbances Abstract: Body dissatisfaction is important risk factor of eating disturbances (Cash T., 2004). Researches on this topic in Russia were not carried out. 181 school girls and students (mean age=18.4) from Moscow nonclinical population were tested by Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and Body Appreciation Scale (BAS). EAT-26 focuses on eating behavior problems (dieting, bulimic behavior, weight preoccupation). BAS reflects aspects of positive body image. The occurrence of eating behavior problems (EAT-26 scores above 20) is equal to 7.2%. Among girls from magnet school with profound study of German language there was 21.4% risk of ED. Spearman rank correlations have shown negative relationship between EAT-26 and BAS (R= –0.41, p<0.05). Body dissatisfaction is associated mostly with dieting behavior. Body dissatisfaction is the risk factor of developing ED among girls and college women, especially in the prestige schools. Introduction:: Incidence of eating disorders as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating increased in the last third of the 20 th century. Many studies analyze risk factors of ED all over the world. It is widely recognized that body dissatisfaction and concern about body weight and shape are core characteristics of disturbed eating behavior. Russian population may be of particular interest because there were little or no such investigations. Methods: 181 school and college girls (mean age=18.4) took part in the study. Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) were used. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated in the standard way. Two questionnaires were used: 1. Eating Attitude Test - EAT-26 - (Garner et al., 1982). EAT-26 consists of 26 items with 6-point Likert scale and focuses on eating behavior problems (dieting, bulimia and food preoccupation, weight preoccupation, oral control). Test consists of three subscales – bulimia and food preoccupation, dieting, and oral control. Total score at or above 20 indicates risk of developing eating disturbances. Marina Kelina (1,3), Nataliya Nikolaeva (1), Tatiana Meshkova (1,2) 1 – Moscow State University of Psychology and Education; 2 – Psychological Institute of Russian Academy of Education ; 3- Moscow State Linguistic University Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between body image and eating behavior in a non- clinical sample of school and college girls of Moscow population. Table 1. Spearman rank correlations between EAT-26, BMI, and BAS Tatiana Meshkova Fig. 2. Body appreciation in different samples of school girls and students Results: Frequency of occurrence of EAT-26 critical scores (at or above 20) was 6.6%. Among girls (N=42) from magnet school with profound study of German language it was significantly higher %. (Fig.1). BMI of girls was ranged between 15.0 and 30.0 (mean = 20.1). Spearman rank correlations have shown negative relationships between total scores of EAT-26 and BAS (R=-0, 43, p=0,000) and low positive relationships between BMI and total EAT-26 and negative relations between BMI and BAS scores (Table 1). The BAS scores of girls from magnet school were in average higher than those of other girls (Fig. 2). NRp EAT-26 & BAS180-0,439***0,000 EAT-26 & BMI1720,181*0,025 BAS & BMI171-0,182*0,024 Fig.1 Frequency of occurrence of EAT-26 critical scores (at or above 20) Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) Question Always Often Sometimes Seldom Never 1 I respect my body I feel good about my body On the whole, I am satisfied with my body Despite its flaws, I accept my body for what it is I feel that my body has at least some good qualities I take a positive attitude toward my body I am attentive to my body’s needs My self-worth is independent of my body shape or weight I do not focus a lot of energy being concerned with my body shape or weight My feelings toward my body are positive, for the most part I engage in healthy behaviors to take care of my body I do not allow unrealistically thin images of women presented in the media to affect my attitudes toward my body Despite its imperfections, I still like my body Conclusion: There is positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and eating disturbances (mainly it concerns the preoccupation of dieting). Despite the fact that girls from magnet school have the lower level of body dissatisfaction, than other girls have, they more often demonstrate eating disturbances (high level of dieting and other risk health behavior). We suggest that body dissatisfaction is not one risk factor of ED. We assume that girls from magnet school have specific personality traits such as achievement motivation, perfectionism etc. Present-day ideal of successful woman forces them to aspire to thinness. Many researches prove this link between perfectionism and eating disturbances. Probably girls, which have such personality traits, have unrealistic ideal body image and tend to use restricting eating behavior. The further investigations need to check these assumptions. References: Avalos L., Tylka T., Wood- Barcalow N. The body Appreciation Scale: Development and psychometric evaluation. Body Image, 2005 (2), p Garner D., Olmsted M., Garfinkel P., Bohr Y. The Eating Attitude Test: psychometric features and clinical correlates. Psychological medicine, 1982 (12), p Cash T. Body Image: past, present and future. Body Image, 2004 (1), p Body Appreciation Scale - (Avalos L., Tylka T., Wood- Barcalow N., 2005) is a 13-item scale that measures four aspects of positive body image: favorable opinions of one’s own body; acceptance of the body in spite of imperfections; respect for the body, particularly in relation to its needs and protection of the body, including rejection of unrealistic ideals.