Structural modeling analysis of body dysphoria and eating disorder symptoms in preadolescent girls

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Abstract
Researchers have identified eating disorders among prepubertal children, and attention is being focused on children who may be at risk for developing an eating disorder. In this investigation, a total of 148 girls ages 8 to 13 in grades 3 through 7 completed the Children's Eating Attitudes Test, Children's Depression Inventory, Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, the physical appearance and attributes items, and a measure of social pressure for thinness. The Body Image Assessment procedures for children (BIA-C) and preadolescents (BIA-P) were also administered The LISREL VII program was used to test a structural model of the development of eating disorder symptoms in preadolescent girls. The results of this study supported the prediction that body dysphoria, social pressure for thinness, low self-esteem, and depression are significant risk factors for eating disorder symptoms in preadolescent girls.