Does body shame mediate the relationship between parental bonding, self-esteem, maladaptive perfectionism, body mass index and eating disorders? A structural equation model

Purpose: Body shame has been strongly associated with eating pathology. However, less is known about the predisposing factors linked to these feelings and how they interact with other variables in eating disorder development. Thus, the aim of the present study was to provide a preliminary understanding of the relationship between body shame and some of the major risk factors for eating disorder onset, identifying the possible mechanisms of action. Specifically, we tested a structural equation model in which perceived parental bonding, self-esteem, perfectionism, and body mass index are associated with eating disorder risk via body shame. Methods: 1156 high school students aged 13-20 were screened by means of self-report measures of parental behavior, self-esteem, perfectionism, body shame and eating disorder risk. The height and weight of each individual were measured. Results: In predicting eating disorder risk, parental protectiveness (β=0.09), body mass index (β=0.18), self-esteem (β=-0.14) and body shame (β=0.58) had a direct effect on this variable and overall our model accounted for 58% of its variance. The experience of shame related to one’s body appeared to have a considerably significant influence on eating disturbances vulnerability and it also serves as a mediator between other risk factors and eating disturbance risk. A series of multi-group analyses indicated no significant difference between males and females. Conclusions: The emotion of shame may enhance our understanding of eating disorders, as well as being a salient factor for the development of preventive programs and treatment approaches.