Author

Maisy Seale

Date Approved

2023

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

Psychology

First Advisor

Chong Man Chow, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Heather Janisse, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Natalie Dove, Ph.D.

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are prevalent and concerning issues for adolescent girls. Coping styles have been linked to disordered eating behaviors. Little research has tied coping with body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. When this has been done, there have not been significant results. This study was designed to see if there could be significant results for negative coping as a moderator between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior. Adolescent girls aged 11 to 18 years old participated by completing online questionnaires. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypothesis of negative coping as a moderator between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior. There was no evidence that supported negative coping as a moderator between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior. Results found body dissatisfaction to be predictive of restrained eating, emotional eating, and external eating. Additionally, preoccupied coping was predictive of emotional eating.

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Psychology Commons

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