Testing the transdiagnostic model of eating disorders in adolescents using longitudinal 8 data: Understanding risk factors for eating disorder symptoms in adolescence

Abstract

Objective: Although risk factors associated with eating disorders (EDs) have been widely studied, prospective longitudinal studies that examine risk factors at early adolescence, before the peak age of ED onset, remain limited. The study examined the transdiagnostic model of EDs, and investigated the potential influence of body dissatisfaction, negative reactivity and self-esteem in adolescents aged 10-11, on partial-syndrome ED status at age 16-17. Method: The sample comprised of 2,372 adolescents drawn from Wave 3, 4 and 7 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Partial-syndrome ED status was measured at age 16-17 using the Branched Eating Disorder Test, to identify adolescents who met partial-criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. The associations between risk factors at age 10-11 and partial-syndrome ED at age 16-17 were examined whilst adjusting for relevant confounding family factors at age 8-9. Results: Negative reactivity and self esteem did not show significant association with partial-syndrome ED at age 16-17. Body dissatisfaction significantly predicted partial-syndrome ED in the reverse to expected direction; dissatisfaction was associated with decreased likelihood of meeting partial syndrome ED at age 16-17. Discussion: Findings of the study suggest that the transdiagnostic model of EDs may not represent well the risk factors of EDs in early adolescence. Body dissatisfaction, negative reactivity and self-esteem may be sensitive to time and changes throughout adolescence in their predictive ability for subsequent ED development in late adolescence. Further research is needed to understand the developmental trajectory of these factors in adolescence.