Body Esteem and Eating Disorders (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for:  Clinical psychologists, Counselors, LMFTs, and School Psychologists

Course By: Michael Parent, PhD

Content By: Li, Y. (2020). Linking body esteem to eating disorders among adolescents: A moderated mediation model. Journal of Health Psychology, 25, 1755-1770. Doi: 10.1177/1359105319886048

Course Description: Eating disorders pose risks to mental and physical health. The authors of the present study investigated the role of body esteem in risk for eating disorders, with social appearance functioning as a mediator and emotional intelligence functioning as a moderator. The authors conducted a quantitative study using data from 2,509 high school students in China. The results supported social appearance anxiety as a mediator of the relationship between body esteem and eating disorder risk. The results also supported emotional intelligence as a moderator of the relationship between body esteem and social appearance anxiety, and body esteem and eating disorder risk, but not between social appearance anxiety and eating disorder risk. The authors suggest that enhancing emotional intelligence may prevent the development of eating disorders. Future research should explore these relationships over time, or within the context of an emotional intelligence enhancement intervention for adolescents.

Learning Objectives:

• Define body esteem and list three components of body esteem as defined by Mendelson and White.
• Define emotional intelligence and explain its role as a moderator in the relationship between body esteem and eating disorder risk.
• Define support social appearance anxiety and explain its role as a mediator in the relationships between body esteem and eating disorder risk.

Course Outline:

1. Read and understand Linking body esteem to eating disorders among adolescents: A moderated mediation model.
2. Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives.
3. Review the finding of the study with regard to social appearance anxiety as a mediator and emotional intelligence as a moderator in the relationship between body esteem and eating disorder risk.
4. Complete the post-test questions. Recall that answers should be based on the referenced article.
5. Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to understand the relations among body esteem, eating disorder risk, social appearance anxiety, and emotional intelligence in this study.