Perceptions of Parents, Self, and God As Predictive of Sympton Severity Among Women Beginning Inpatient Treatment for Eating Disorders
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2006-02-27 Perceptions of Parents, Self, and God as Predictive of Sympton Severity Among Women Beginning Inpatient Treatment for Eating Disorders Melissa H. Smith Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Counseling Psychology Commons, and the Special Education and Teaching Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Smith, Melissa H., "Perceptions of Parents, Self, and God as Predictive of Sympton Severity Among Women Beginning Inpatient Treatment for Eating Disorders" (2006). Theses and Dissertations. 356. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/356 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. PERCEPTIONS OF PARENTS, SELF, AND GOD AS PREDICTIVE OF SYMPTOM SEVERITY AMONG WOMEN BEGINNING INPATIENT TREATMENT FOR EATING DISORDERS by Melissa H. Smith A dissertation submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education Brigham Young University August 2006 Copyright © 2006 Melissa H. Smith All Rights Reserved BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY GRADUATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL of a dissertation submitted by Melissa H. Smith This dissertation has been read by each member of the following graduate committee and by majority vote has been found to be satisfactory. ________________________________ ____________________________________ Date Marleen S. Williams, Chair ________________________________ ____________________________________ Date P. Scott Richards ________________________________ ____________________________________ Date Aaron P. Jackson ________________________________ ____________________________________ Date Rachel E. Lyon ________________________________ ____________________________________ Date Steven A. Smith BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY As chair of the candidate’s graduate committee, I have read the dissertation of Melissa H. Smith in its final form and have found that (1) its format, citations, and bibliographical style are consistent and acceptable and fulfill university and department style requirements; (2) its illustrative materials including figures, tables, and charts are in place; and (3) the final manuscript is satisfactory to the graduate committee and is ready for submission to the university library. ___________________________ ____________________________________ Date Marleen S. Williams Chair, Graduate Committee Accepted for the Department ____________________________________ Aaron P. Jackson Graduate Coordinator Accepted for the College ____________________________________ K. Richard Young Dean, College of Education ABSTRACT PERCEPTIONS OF PARENTS, SELF, AND GOD AS PREDICTIVE OF SYMPTOM SEVERITY AMONG WOMEN BEGINNING INPATIENT TREATMENT FOR EATING DISORDERS Melissa H. Smith Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education Doctor of Philosophy The present investigation examined whether perceptions of parents, self, and God among women beginning inpatient treatment for eating disorders was predictive of symptom severity. The sample included 464 women (ages 12 to 56 years) beginning inpatient treatment for eating disorders at a private treatment facility, with the majority being Caucasian. Participants completed study measures as part of an initial battery of assessment measures, and included indices of eating disorder symptomology, parental relationships, self-esteem, and religious well-being. Multiple regression analysis showed perceptions of self and parents to be significant predictors, however perceptions of God failed to predict eating disorder symptom severity. Differences between perceptions of mothers and fathers were also found. Implications and recommendations for future research and practice are discussed. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express my appreciation to my chair and committee members for their assistance on the dissertation. For their insights, recommendations, and guidance I am very grateful, and feel fortunate to have so many wonderful mentors. I am appreciative of the clinical training I received at Center for Change, Inc., which provided the foundation for my clinical thinking about eating disorders. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Randy K. Hardman for his mentorship. I hope to someday emulate his kindness and clinical skill. I wish to thank my husband, Micah, for his tireless support of my goals and constant encouragement. Finally, I would like to thank my children, Jackson, and the surprises--Maya and Luke--for their love, patience, and smiling faces, which reminded me that the dissertation could indeed wait another day. TABLE OF CONTENTS COPYRIGHT ........................................................ ii GRADUATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL ................................. iii FINAL READING APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE ....................... iv ABSTRACT ......................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................. vii LIST OF TABLES ................................................... xi INTRODUCTION .................................................... 1 Parent-Perception and Self-Perception ................................ 2 God-Perception ................................................. 6 Rationale for the Current Investigation ............................... 12 Problem to be Investigated ........................................ 14 Purpose of the Present Study ...................................... 15 Research Hypotheses ...................................... 18 Hypothesis #1 ...................................... 18 Hypothesis #2 ...................................... 18 Hypothesis #3 ...................................... 18 Hypothesis #4 ...................................... 19 Comprehensive Review of the Literature ............................. 19 Diagnosis of Eating Disorders ................................ 19 Multidimensional Risk Factors ............................... 20 vii Sociocultural Influences .............................. 20 Cultural Influences .................................. 22 Familial Influences .................................. 23 Individual Influences ................................. 23 Demographic Variables as Predictors .................... 24 Eating Disorders and Perceptions of Parents ..................... 24 Parental Acceptance-Rejection Theory (PAR) .............. 26 Mother-Daughter Relationship ......................... 28 Father-Daughter Relationship .......................... 31 Eating Disorders and Self-Perception .......................... 34 Identity Formation .................................. 36 Body Image ....................................... 38 Control and Coping Behavior .......................... 41 Eating Disorders and Religious Well-Being ...................... 42 Perfectionism ...................................... 46 Unworthiness ...................................... 47 Self-Control ....................................... 48 Dependency ....................................... 48 Approval-Seeking ................................... 50 METHOD .......................................................... 52 Population .................................................... 52 Sample ....................................................... 52 viii Procedures .................................................... 56 Instruments ................................................... 56 Parent Perception Predictor Variables .......................... 57 Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire .............. 57 Attitudes Toward Parents Scale ........................ 57 Self-Esteem Predictor Variable ............................... 59 Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory .................. 59 Religious Well-Being Predictor Variable ........................ 60 Spiritual Well-Being Scale ............................. 60 Eating Disorder Symptom Severity Criterion Variables ............. 61 Eating Attitudes Test ................................ 61 Body Shape Questionnaire ............................ 61 Demographic Predictor Variables ............................. 62 Age of Onset ....................................... 63 Comorbid Diagnosis ................................. 63 History of Childhood Sex Abuse ........................ 63 Methods of Analysis and Variables .................................. 63 RESULTS .......................................................... 67 Hypothesis #1 ................................................. 67 Hypothesis #2 ................................................. 70 Hypothesis #3 ................................................. 72 Hypothesis #4 ................................................. 74 ix Summary of Results ............................................. 76 DISCUSSION ....................................................... 78 Findings ...................................................... 79 Conclusions ................................................... 83 Methodological Strengths ........................................ 84 Limitations of the Study .......................................... 84 Recommendations for Future Research .............................. 85 Implications