The sense of personal ineffectiveness in patients with eating disorders: One construct or several?

Abstract

The sense of personal ineffectiveness in eating disorders was investigated as a complex construct referring to various aspects of functioning rather than as the unidimensional trait assumed by prior studies. Eighteen patients and 18 controls were given a number of measures in order to test for ineffectiveness from several perspectives. The results indicated that patients with eating disorders experience a sense of ineffectiveness in many areas of their lives. Their more general attitudes about personal control appear to be dominated by their lack of control over their eating behaviour. However, these patients also exhibit distinct and specific difficulties in the areas of social effectiveness, personal independence, and self-esteem. These findings support the notion that ineffectiveness in eating disorders is not a single attitudinal style but a complex construct referring to a range of behaviors.