Rami Tolmacz1, Rachel Bachner-Melman2,3, Lilac Lev-Ari4,5, Dana Brondvine1. 1. Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel. 2. Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel. rachel.bachner@mail.huji.ac.il. 3. School of Social Work, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. rachel.bachner@mail.huji.ac.il. 4. Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel. 5. The Lior Tsfaty Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Studies, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Women with disordered eating report low satisfaction from romantic relationships. We wished to examine whether this may be explained in part by a restricted or inflated sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern and low authenticity levels. METHOD: A community sample of 170 women aged 18-60 (M = 24.89 + 6.22), who had experienced a meaningful romantic relationship, completed questionnaires online. These included measures of disordered eating (EDE-Q), sense of relational entitlement (SRE-R), pathological concern (PCQ), relational authenticity (AIRS) and basic relational needs satisfaction (BNSRS). Structural equation model (SEM) was employed to assess the mediating effect of the SRE-R, PCQ and AIRS on the association between ED symptoms and BNSRS. RESULTS: Participants with high EDE-Q scores tended to score high on inflated and restricted SRE-R, PCQ, AIRS and BNSRS. SRE-R, PCQ and AIRS scores mediated the negative association between EDE-Q and BNSRS scores. CONCLUSIONS: An imbalanced sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern and inauthenticity seem to underlie the dissatisfaction that women with disordered eating experience from romantic relationships. Since these relational characteristics seem to take a high toll on the intimate relationships, it is important to encourage healthy eating attitudes and assertiveness within romantic relationships, in life and in therapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.
OBJECTIVE: Women with disordered eating report low satisfaction from romantic relationships. We wished to examine whether this may be explained in part by a restricted or inflated sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern and low authenticity levels. METHOD: A community sample of 170 women aged 18-60 (M = 24.89 + 6.22), who had experienced a meaningful romantic relationship, completed questionnaires online. These included measures of disordered eating (EDE-Q), sense of relational entitlement (SRE-R), pathological concern (PCQ), relational authenticity (AIRS) and basic relational needs satisfaction (BNSRS). Structural equation model (SEM) was employed to assess the mediating effect of the SRE-R, PCQ and AIRS on the association between ED symptoms and BNSRS. RESULTS: Participants with high EDE-Q scores tended to score high on inflated and restricted SRE-R, PCQ, AIRS and BNSRS. SRE-R, PCQ and AIRS scores mediated the negative association between EDE-Q and BNSRS scores. CONCLUSIONS: An imbalanced sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern and inauthenticity seem to underlie the dissatisfaction that women with disordered eating experience from romantic relationships. Since these relational characteristics seem to take a high toll on the intimate relationships, it is important to encourage healthy eating attitudes and assertiveness within romantic relationships, in life and in therapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.