Disordered eating behaviors: An approach based on the transdiagnostic model in the community sample

The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of the transdiagnostic model (Fairburn, Cooper & Shafran, 2003) in a large community adult sample in Turkey. In order to fulfill this aim, the present study examined the predictive effects of the four maintaining factors (clinical perfectionism, low self-esteem, interpersonal difficulties and mood intolerance) in the transdiagnostic model on the core eating disorder psychopathology and disordered eating behaviors (dietary restriction, binge eating, purging and excessive exercise). The study was carried out with 1341 adult participants (aged between 18 and 65) from the seven geographical regions of Turkey. The participants completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex, The Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale, Sociodemographic and Clinical Information Form. Structural equation modelling results suggest that each four maintaining factors (clinical perfectionism, low self-esteem, interpersonal difficulties and mood intolerance) have a direct positive relationship with the core eating disorder psychopathology (overevaluation of weight, shape and eating). The core eating disorder psychopathology leads individuals to dietary restriction and binge eating; and binge eating triggers purging. However, contrary to the transdiagnostic model, a negative relationship is found between dietary restriction and binge eating; and no relationship is found between binge eating and excessive exercising. In line with the transdiagnostic model, mood intolerance leads individuals to purging. On the other hand, contrary to the model no association is found between mood intolerance and binge eating; and a negative association is found between mood intolerance and excessive exercising. In addition to the hypotheses of the transdiagnostic model, a negative relationship was also noted between mood intolerance and dietary restriction. All these findings suggest that transdiagnostic model is partially supported in the community adult sample in Turkey. The findings of this study make an important contribution to the literature on eating disorders, as well as interventions for prevention and treatment of disordered eating behaviors. Keywords: Disordered eating behaviors, transdiagnostic model, dietary restriction, binge eating, purging, excessive exercise, clinical perfectionism, self-esteem, interpersonal difficulties and mood intolerance